VINEYARDS. 



23 



a constant leakage from jar to jar as they ascend. Each 

 of the jars delivers from four to five English pints at each 

 revolution of the wheel (of ropes). The trough, into 

 which they are emptied as the wheel turns, is on a level 

 with its centre. When there is a greater demand for 

 water in the very dry season, they double the number of 

 pots, putting one between each of those now in use, and 

 yoking a second mule. They thus double the quantity of 

 water delivered in the same time. The water is con- 

 veyed to the town in earthen pipes, and sold from the 

 cistern to which it flows, the 7i07'ias being all private 

 property. 



Having finished our examination of the noria^ we pro- 

 ceeded to the adjoining vineyard, where half a dozen men 

 were employed in gathering the grapes ; this vineyard is 

 situated in what are called the arenas (sands) : the soil 

 is a light sandy loam, and though surrounded by hills of 

 chalk, did not appear on trial to contain the smallest por- 

 tion of calcareous matter. 



The soil seemed capable of supporting a more vigorous 

 vegetation than at any place we had visited, and the vines 

 were pruned accordingly. On each vine there was at 

 least one long branch, containing from eight to ten knots, 

 and from two to four spurs, with one or two knots each. 

 On some vines there were two branches, one containing 

 eight or ten knots, the other four or five, beside three 

 or four spurs, with one or two knots each. On one 

 or two vines, which seemed very heavily charged, I 

 counted twelve knots on one branch, and seven spurs ; 

 the crop was in proportion, many of the vines producing 

 twenty bunches and upwards. The average weight of 

 fruit on each vine could not be less than from 25 to SOlbs. 

 The vinador said, the extent of the vineyard was ten 

 aranzadas — ^(9 acres, 2 roods, 10 perches); the produce 



