ANCIENT, Climate.
Vegetation, Agriculture, etc.— The culti vated land in Greece has recently been estimated at rather more than 5,563,100 acres. There are besides 5,000,000 acres of pasture land, and 3,000,000 acres of waste land. The draining of Lake Copais redeems 60,000 acres of land, which the company divides into holdings of from 5 to 50 acres. English agricultural machinery is being introduced, but still agriculture is in a backward state.
Thessaly is the richest portion of Greece agriculturally. The condition of the agricul tural population is said to be very satisfactory. The principal cereal crops are wheat, barley and maize, but the quantity raised is not suffi cient, and much grain is imported. All the fruits of the latitude are grown—figs, almonds, oranges, citrons, melons, etc.— in abundance and of excellent quality, without receiving any great share of attention. The vine also grows vigorously, and considerable quantities of wine are made, some of the sorts being of high qual ity. But a much more important product of Greece, especially on the coasts of the Pelopon nesus, and in the islands of Cephalonia, Zante, Ithaca and Santa Maura, is the Corinthian grape or currant, the export of which increased m value from $8,238,118 in 1900 to $8,910,000 in 1906; in 1914 the value was $7,939,855. Another important object of cultivation is the olive, for which both the soil and the climate are alike favorable. The culture of the mul berry for the rearing of silk-worms is carried on to some extent. Some good tobacco is grown. The forests contain, among other trees, the oak (Quercus Ali lops) which yields the valonia of commerce. The breed of cattle is being improved, and irrigation canals are being constructed. Asses and mules are more numerous than horses ,• cattle are still compara tively few ; and the chief animals from which dairy produce is obtained are the sheep and the goat. The quantity of wool produced is consid erable, but most of it is of a coarse description.
Manufactures, Trade, Communications, The manufactures are limited, but with all other branches of industry in Greece are increasing, and are furthered by high duties on imported goods. The employment of the steam engine in manufacturing industries dates from about 1868, and is yet only developed to a small extent. Pincus is the chief industrial centre,
having spinning and weaving factories for cot ton, silk and wool, machine-shops, paper-works, dye-works, etc. Other centres are Syra, Corinth, Nauplia, Patras, Larissa. Still, cottons and other textiles form by far the most im portant part of the imports of manufactured goods. Leather manufactures form an im portant branch of industry. Marble has been worked from the most ancient period in the quarries of the island of Paros. In 1871 the working of the ancient argentiferous lead mines of Laurion in Attica was resumed with good success; and quantities of manganese iron ore and zinc ore are also mined in this district. Ship-building is carried on at various places. A large part of the foreign shipping of Greece is that which deals with the import of the manufactures of England, Germany,• etc., into Greece, Turkey and the Levant generally. In regard to this branch, the peculiar advantages which the Greeks possess in their knowledge of the languages, and acquaintance with the habits and wants of the people of these countries, have been greatly in. their favor. The chief Ports of Greece are Piraeus (population 73,579, the port of Athens), Syra and Patras (popula tion 37,958). The principal articles of export are currants (very largely to Britain), wine, olive-oil, dried figs, raisins, silver, lead, zinc ore and manganese iron ore, tobacco, sponges; the principal imports are cereals, coal and cotton and woolen goods. The imports in 1901 were $27,773,010; in 1914, the imports were $35,026, 905; the exports, $23,425,375. The greatest hindrance to the development of Greece is the want of good roads, which are peculiarly ne cessary in so mountainous a country. Attention, however, has been directed to the supplying of this want, and there are now over 3,000 miles of roads. Among other public works which have engaged the energies of the Greeks are the construction and restoration of harbors, the erection of lighthouses, the execution of drainage works, etc. In 1883 there were only 58 miles of railways open, but in 1914 about 1,365 miles were open, and 100 were under con struction. A ship canal across the isthmus of Corinth (four miles) was opened in 1893.