AGRICULTURE OF MADEIRA. 5 



To return to the streets and roads about Funchal. These are paved with small thin stones 

 placed upon edge, and retained in position by curbs. They are kept wonderfully clean by rains, 

 and are used by pedestrians and horsemen, by carriages upon sleds, and for transporting heavy 

 burdens upon slides. It is unnecessary to notice the horses, and peculiarities of riding, as these 

 are mentioned by all visitors. The carriages upon sleigh-runners are of recent introduction ; 

 but the oxen of the island have been long used to dragging their weighty loads simply upon 

 planks, which slide over the pavement upon their sides. These well-formed, and sinewy, but 

 little fellows, stand well up to their work, which, however, is not so severe as one would 

 imagine ; but cloths are placed by the driver, from time to time, in front of the slide, in ascend- 

 ing acclivities, to diminish friction as it glides over them, and the downward course is easy and 

 speedy enough. Such contrivances are, probably, better adapted to such roads than wheel 

 vehicles would be, as the frequent roll of carriages, or the heavy tread of a single wagon, would 

 almost certainly tear the slight pavement to pieces, particularly after a soaking rain. 



It is inferred (with only a brief time and few opportunities for observing) that the agriculture, 

 or rather horticulture, of the island is carried on chiefly by manual labor, and is in a compara- 

 tively rude and simple state. Loudon says : " It is the boast of the islanders, that their country 

 produces the best wheat, the purest sugar, and the finest wines in the world ; together with 

 the most salubrious air, and a freedom from all noxious reptiles." 



"The variety of grape cultivated is what in France is called the Rhenish, a sort of small 

 black cluster ; but its character is greatly altered since its transplantation to Madeira. The 

 grape from which the Malmsey Madeira wine is made is the Ciotat of the French, or parsley- 

 leaved muscadine with a white berry." 



' ' The island, it is said, when discovered by the Portuguese, was covered with wood ; and the 

 first step taken by the new settlers was to set fire to the wood. The conflagration is said to 

 have lasted seven years, and to have been the chief cause of the fertility of the soil ; but, what- 

 ever may have been the effect at first, this fertility could not have lasted for three centuries." 



CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 



From the anchorage, what seem to be numerous trees are seen in rows of a deep-green 

 growth; they are too large for either maize or sugar-cane. They proved to be of pine, and are 

 of various ages, from the smallest plants to full-grown, majestic trees, and are thinned out pro- 

 portionably. The country without them would be very bare, and they serve not only the useful 

 purpose of affording fuel, but also the ornamental one of shading the approach to, and the 

 grounds around, suburban country-houses. From this cause, these present a comfortable and 

 home-like appearance, in contrast with the arid aspect of the adjoining country. This sys- 

 tem of planting might be adopted in some parts of our country with advantage ; full direc- 

 tions for which could be found in English and Scotch agricultural writings. 



The most interesting productions are wheat, wool, wine, a remarkable kind of cattle, broad- 

 tailed sheep, and a peculiar farinaceous vegetable that grows above ground — all of which will 

 be noticed in their order. 



The Cape wheat is of very superior quality, being esteemed better than any other either 

 grown in or imported into Great Britain, and it has sold at "from 10s. to 15s. more than 

 the finest Dantzic," (per quarter?) It is remarkable for its whiteness, plump grain, and ex- 

 traordinary weight, not unfrequently exceeding 70 pounds per bushel. "The Dutch, when 

 they had the Cape in their possession, were accustomed to import seed-wheat from it." Sin- 



