Catalonia is watered by twenty-six rivers, of which the chief are the Ebro, which is the largest, and is very im portant fur its navigation, the Segra, the Llobregat, the Ceevera, the Fluvia, the:Per, the Muga, the 'Pordera, die Bezoti, and the Noya.
Though the soil of this province be more ungrateful, and more interrupted with mountains and rocks than that of any of the other provinces, yet agriculture is here better understood, and more successfully and universally practised, than in any other part of Spain. The plains and vallies are intersected by numerous canals, for the purposes of irrigation, in which the Catalonians particu larly excel, and which is attended with the most benefi cial consequences. In some cantons, indeed, this art is carried to very great perfection ; and a regular police is established for conducting and distributing the waters. Every proprietor enjoys the right of irrigating his land for a limited time, according to the extent of his proper ty ; and for this privilege he pays an annual duty, which is expended in keeping up the canals, and in paying the salaries of the commissioners. The districts most re markable for fertility and cultivation, are, the country about Lerida, the plains of Urgel, Vallez, and Iqualada; the environs of Cervera, the Campo de Tarragona, and Ampurdan. The industry of the Catalonians, however, is not confined to the plains. The mountains are im proved by their skill and labour ; and even craggy cliffs, which seem to have been destined for ever to be the ha bitation of the chamois, are converted by their exertions into vineyards, cultivated fields, and valuable forests. In many places they carry up earth to fix the young vine in, and rather than suffer a good patch of soil to remain useless, they cr-npt6-noo 10t one another down from the brow of the rock by ropes. Planting is a favourite im provement, and a principal object of attention with the Catalonian landlords. They vie with each other in mul tiplying trees of every kind. Plantations of beeches, elms, poplars, pines, and oaks, arc consequently nume rous and thriving ; and cork trees are so plentiful, that Catalonia is able to supply the whole of Europe with this important article. Fruit trees of every description are
reared in great abundance, particularly in the beautiful gar den on the banks of the Segra, the Llobregat, and the Am purdan, and between Matavo and Barcelona; and oranges, lemons, figs, almonds, filberts, apples, walnuts, and chcs nuts, are common throughout the province. Grain of every kind is raised here, but the crops are liable to fre quent burstings and mildew, and the wheat harvest is seldom sufficient for the consumption of the inhabitants, who are obliged to draw supplies from other countries. The cultivation of rice has of late considerably decreased, from the idea that it produces an effect upon the atmo sphere very prejudicial to the health ; and the people of Ampurdan, who were its first victims, in a moment of irritation, destroyed most of their rice fields. The vin tage in Catalonia is, in general, uncommonly plentiful, and the wine in the east part of the province is excellent. That in the west and north parts is rathc r of an inferior quality. The best red wine is made at Matavo, and the best white at Sitges. Olive trees are in great abundance ; but mulberries, though they thrive well, are much ne glected; and, consequently, less silk is produced here than in many of the other provinces. The cultivation of flax and hemp is also inconsiderable ; and the. wool which it produces is altogether insufficient to supply the manufactories of the provinces. The principal produc tions of Catalonia, with their average annual quantity and price, are contained in the following Table.
The roads in this province arc in general bad, and notwithstanding the industry of its inhabitants in other respects, they are almost totally neglected. There arc very few bridges, and in rainy weather the Ira% eller is liable to be constantly stopped by the rivers, which, in that season, descend in torrents from the mountains. Goods are conveyed in carts drawn by four or live mules, yoked in a line, which carry immense weights; and the Catalans arc reckoned the most expert and careful dri vers in Spain.