SOUTHERN SPAIN enjoys warm winters, and a considerable variety of sub-tropical plants can be cultivated. On the other hand, the low rainfall renders irrigation necessary, especially in eastern Andalusia and along the Mediterranean coast. Oranges and lemons, which cannot stand the cold winters of the Meseta, grow in abundance to the south of it, and the vine reaches a higher state of perfection than in any other part of the country. The wines of Jerez, Malaga, and Alicante alone have a reputation out side of Spain, while the raisins of Malaga, Almeria, and Alicante are well known. Sugar-cane is cultivated in places, and sugar beet has become an important crop in the south, where it is grown especially in Granada, Malaga, and Almeria. Irrigation is, of course, necessary, but, although the yield of beet per acre is higher than on the unirrigated lands further north, the sugar content is not so large. Cotton is grown, but not to any great extent, and among other products are the banana, the prickly pear, and esparto grass.
The mineral wealth of the region is great, though it has been, as yet, only partially exploited. Iron ore of excellent quality is found in the Sierra Nevada and other folded ranges of the south, and is exported from Seville, Almeria, Aguilas, Cartagena, Garrucha, and Porman. The region at present produces about
one-third of the total output of iron ore in Spain, and will probably produce more in the future, as considerable deposits, which are as yet untouched, are known to exist. The slopes of the Sierra Morena are also rich in minerals. In the province of Huelva are the Rio Tinto mines, which produce the greater part of the copper obtained in Spain. Silver-lead ores are worked in Cordoba and Linares, and zinc ore, or calamine, is obtained a few miles from Almeria. Seville, on the Guadalquivir, about 70 miles from its mouth, is the largest town of the region and conducts most of its trade. The Alphonso XIII Canal will, when completed, improve the navigation of the river and make the port accessible to larger vessels than hitherto, though constant dredging will still be necessary. The town itself possesses iron foundries, cork factories, and various other industries. Cadiz, which has been almost entirely superseded by Seville, is mainly engaged in the evaporation and exportation of salt. Malaga, on the Mediterranean seaboard, has similar industries to Seville, but its value as a port is steadily declining.