SPAIN. If the inhabitants would do as much with their country as nature has done for it, Spain would be rich and prosperous ; since in climate, in minerals, and in vegetable produce, it has many of the elements of com mercial greatness.
The most common kinds of grain which are cultivated in Spain are wheat, maize, barley, and rice. Other objects of agriculture are hemp and flax, especially in the basin of the, Ebro, and madder and saffron on the table land of Cuenca. In the southern districts the sugar-cane and cotton are cultivated. The most common vegetables are onions, garlic, pumpkins, cucumbers, melons, water-melons, potatoes, beans, and peas. Many fruit-trees are cultivated, as almonds, figs, pomegranates, lemons, oranges, pistachia nuts, carobas, dates in the southern districts, walnuts, hazel-nuts, and especially chestnut-trees, which in some of the northern districts cover large tracts. Olive-trees occur in all parts, except the northern mountain tracts, and the vineyards are extensive, except on the most elevated regions. Several of the Spanish wines are considerable articles of commerce, as Xeres (Sherry), Malaga, Alicante, Malvasia, Tinto, and Val de Pefias. Brandy and raisins also are articles of export. Among the wild trees are the sweet-acorn oak, the corli-tree, the kermes oak, and the sumach-tree. On th Blontailas do Asturias and Aralar, and also 01 the western offsets of the Pyrenees, there al', large forests of fine timber-trees. The li quorice-plant is abundant in the vicinity o Sevilla and near the mouth of the Ebro, an the prepared juice is sent to all parts of Europe The sheep are noted for their fine wool which forms an important article of export [MEsTA.] In no country of Europe, excepl Italy, is so much silk obtained as in thE eastern and southern parts of Spain. The cochineal insect has been reared of late years in Andalusia, Granada, and Estremadura, and thrives well. Bees are very abundant, and much honey and wax are obtained.
Spain abounds in minerals. Gold and silver are known to exist in several places. Platinum and copper are met with. A rich mine of quicksilver is worked near Almaden. [Arm, nms.] Lead is very abundant, especially in the Sierra de Gador. Iron ore is very abun
dant in the Sierra de Aralar and other places. There are also tin, calamine, bismuth, cobalt, alum, vitriol, and sulphur. In some parts large quantities of saltpetre are collected. Coal occurs in the Montailas de Asturias and in the Sierra Morena, but it is not much worked. Many kinds of marble are got in Catalonia. Several precious stones are found, as rubies, topazes, amethysts, turquoises, and garnets. Salt is got near Cardona in Catalonia, from the lagune called the Albufera de Va /encia, and from the sea-water along the coast between Cape Trafalgar and the boundary of Portugal.
Few countries of Europe equal Spain in natural commercial advantages, 'whether we consider its situation or its products. The coasts are extensive, and the ports numerous and commodious ; the inhabitants, inured to a warm climate, visit the tropical regions with comparative safety; yet it is far behind most other countries of Europe in commercial ha-1 portance. During the 17th century most of the Spanish trade with America was carried on in Dutch or English vessels; and, with the exception of wine, woo], and oil, few if any of the productions of the Peninsula found their way to that market. About the close of the last century, under the enlightened administra tion of Count Florida Blanca, Spanish com merce revived, and several manufactures were established throughout the country. These, however, were all destroyed during the Penin sular war, and the subsequent separation of the American colonies from the mother country has completely annihilated the mari time trade of Spain. At present Catalonia is almost tho only province of Spain where mama a facturing is carried on to any extent. The a chief exports of Spain consist of wines, dried e fruits, corn, oil, wool, quicksilver, lead, and - some The silk of Valencia, which is f equal to that of Italy, is bought by the French I manufacturers.
Cadiz is the chief port in Spain; about , 3000 vessels arrived there in 1819. The next . in rank are Barcelona, Carthagena, Corunna, t and Tarragona.
The British produce and manufactures ex : ported to Spain in 1849 amounted in value to ; 023,120/.