ENVIRONS OF XERES. 5 



void of 1-1 5th of their contents, and the access of the 

 air is admitted through a loose wooden bung, which 

 merely covers without closing the aperture. 



The exporters purchase the wine from the growers 

 generally when it is one year old. The cellars through- 

 out Xeres are very numerous, and are the most ex- 

 tensive buildings in the town. The wine constitutes the 

 chief wealth of the inhabitants. 



Saturday, 1st October. — The weather being more 

 settled, about mid-day I rode out in company with Dr. 

 Wilson, taking the road to Madrid, in a northerly direc- 

 tion from Xeres. The road immediately after quitting 

 the town was execrable, as well as the streets themselves ; 

 but after passing the limits of the town's administration, 

 and coming on to the road supported by the Government, 

 it was much better. The ground we first passed is a sandy 

 loam on both sides, and near the town it was cultivated 

 with great care for vegetables, every farm having its noria, 

 or water-wheel, to irrigate the grounds. We saw them 

 planting garlic in small square divisions. The plants 

 were placed on a bank which formed the square, about 

 three inches above the surface. The squares were sepa- 

 rated by channels for conveying the water, an interval 

 being left at one of the corners of each square to admit 

 the water to the interior, which was five or six feet in 

 diameter. Some of the squares had also rows of plants 

 on similar situations within them. In this, or a similar 

 manner, all their vegetables are irrigated; and no one 

 would think of laying out a garden unless on a spot where 

 it could be continually irrigated. About a mile from the 

 town we struck off into a plantation of olives : few of the 

 trees, however, contained any considerable quantity, and 

 some were altogether without fruit. Such oHves as we 



