19".] 



Farming in Spain. 



647 



Galicia, maize is cultivated to a very large extent, where it 

 forms the staple diet of the working people. The maize is 

 sown about May; weeding takes place but once, generally 

 during July, and the grain is harvested in September. Only 

 in the Basque Provinces and in the West are there any 

 hedges, the absence of which renders the countryside harsh 

 and uninteresting. Forests are fairly plentiful, and many of 

 the hills are thickly covered; fruit trees — principally apple 

 and pear — are abundant ; a large quantity of very good cider 

 is produced. The cattle in the North are small, with short 

 horns; few horses are to be seen, most of the draught work 

 being done by cows, which naturally do not yield a very 

 generous supply of milk. 



The West of Spain consists mostly of grazing land, and 

 according to the official figures there are under sixty inhabi- 

 tants per square league. Farming in this part of Spain is 

 purely pastoral. The Concejo de la Mesta — a company of 

 sheep proprietors — was established in 1556, and was granted 

 very arbitrary privileges. Towards the end of the sixteenth 

 century this company possessed over 7,000,000 sheep, while 

 to-day it has about 5,000,000. During the summer months 

 the sheep live in the mountains, but they are brought down 

 to the warmer valleys about October, where they remain 

 until March. The sheep are divided into what are termed 

 Cabanas, or huge flocks of about 10,000 head, each being 

 directed by a Mayoral or Merino, who has fifty shepherds 

 under his command. The breed of sheep in Western Spain 

 is called the Merino, after the name of the chief shepherd, 

 and they are now famous the world over for their wool. 



The central region of Spain consists of vast treeless plains, 

 interspersed with rocky and barren mountains. Some of the 

 land is excellent, but some consists of almost pure sand, and 

 does not pay to cultivate. This region is the granary of 

 Spain, where corn growing — wheat and barley — is the chief 

 occupation of the farmer. The corn is sown broadcast on 

 fallow land, and ploughed in, generally in October or 

 November ; in the spring, weeding takes place, and in July 

 the grain is ready for harvesting. Cutting with the sickle 

 and not with the scythe is invariably adopted. In many 

 parts the grain is thrashed in the Biblical fashion by means 



