35 
have become unproductive, which, with careful management, cou!d be 
made as fruitful as ever they were; and if seems to me that many a 
young Englishman, if he only knew of it, would be glad to turn his steps 
hitherwards to a delightful country, within five days of home, iustead of 
going off to Florida or Canada; of trying his fortune in a province 
where, in case of illness, he is always within reach of a tewn, whence he 
can draw his supplies ; and then, in case of wishing to return home, the 
most that can cost him is some 6/. to 8/.for bis ticket by steamer. 
a 
attacked by the phylloxera, he had not the few pounds necessary for 
replanting the vineyards, and because he had not sufficient knowledge or 
initiative to try whether other trees or crops would not grow in their 
stead. These farms, with buildings on them, can now be purchased for 
a song by those who know how to set about it. 
* 'The following interesting notes have been given me by a friend, and 
will, I trust, produce some result : — 
“ The slopes to the north and north-east of Malaga, once planted with 
vines, have of late years been devasted by the phylloxera, and are only 
sed now as a pasture ground for goats. Besides vines, the olive, fig, 
pomegranate, and other fruit trees grow with great luxuriance. This 
land is divided into properties ranging from 50 fanegas te 100 fanegas.* 
Each property has a house, provided with all necessary appliances, of a 
primitive character, for pressing and storing wine, stables &c., combined 
with dwelling for the owner. Nearly all these farms belong to peop 
iving in or near Malaga. There are vegetable gardens and orchards, 
formed in terraces, attached to the houses, in which lem 
pomegranate, and other fruit trees are reared. Water is not very 
plentiful, however, though there is, generally speaking, more tlan 
sufficjent for the requirements of the household and for watering the 
-orchards in summer time, and more can be obtained by boring. * 
* The. land itself is not very rich, as usually happens with hiily land, 
but both the character of the country and the composition of the earth 
(oxide of iron predominating) make it well suited for vine culture. 
* In its present condition the land can be bought very cheap, and may 
be valued at about 50 pesetas to 75 pesetas the fanega (17s. to 55s. per 
“Fifty fanegas at 60 pesetas, average, 3,000 pesetas; fruit trees, 
-orchards, &e., say 5,000 ; house and outbuildings (one-third of 
8,0CO pesetas), 2,067 pesetas; total. 10,667 pesetas. Or, say 4€ | 
farm 5 acres, with buildings, and partly stocked. 
“ Labour is cheap and plentiful, wages ranging from 1} pesetas to 2 
pesetas (1 peseta—about 9d.) a day, according to the season. This 
includes food. T'he meals cost 65 c. to 75 c. (100 c.=1 peseta) per head 
diem, according to season and price. When working on the land the 
men are divided into gangs of eight or ten in each, esch one having an 
-overseer, and if there be several gangs a chief overseer is placed over 
bhem all. : 
“ Taxes on land in an unproductive state are very small, and according 
to present legislation, a farm which has been’ freshly planted with vines 
-or fig trees is free from taxation for 10 years as regards the new planta- . 
tion. The transfer duty is 3 per cent.; a piece of land sold, within 
* ] fanega — 1:6374 acres. 
