VALENCIA. A large proportion of this beautiful Spanish province is among the most fertile and best cultivated districts in Europe. The plain or vega of Valencia is about 30 miles long and 20 wide ; the whole of this district is planted with olive, mulberry, ilex, algaroba, orange, and palm-trees, and has the appearance of an immense garden. Such is the fertility of the soil that two and three craps in the year are generally obtained. The rice crops are the most valuable, and are chiefly produced in the tract which is irrigated by the Albufera, a large lake in the neighbour hood of Valencia. The other chief product is the white mulberry, for the feeding of silk worms: the produce of silk from the vega of Valencia amounts to above one million of pounds yearly, a great part of which is ex ported in its raw state to France. The export of fruit from Valencia is also considerable; of raisins, the quantity exported has in some years been close upon 150,000 cwts. to Eng land alone. The exports of barilla, almonds, figs, oil, saffron, wool, brandy, and wine, from different ports of Valencia is also very great, particularly the wine called Beni Carlo, which comes from a town of that name.
Mercury, copper, sulphur, arsenic, gold, silver, lead, iron, coal, and antimony, are among the mineral products. Woollen, linen, and silken goods are made in several towns of the province, but chiefly for home consump tion. Cordage made from the fibre of the esparto, mats, tiles, soap, glass, paper, pottery, and earthenware, are exported to all parts or Spain. Salt is largely exported to Sweden.
In the city of Valencia, the imparts are cod fish, bricks, iron, coals, tobacco, colonial pro duce, hides, manufactured goods, linen, hard ware, trinkets, Norway deals, and Dutch cheese. The exports are composed of barilla, wine, raisins, almonds, lead, brandy, oranges, raw silk, saffron, oil, wool, bass mats and ropes, salt, liquorice, and aniseed. The inha bitants are chiefly devoted to agriculture, al though many branches of trade flourish in the city. Velvets, taffetas, flowered damask, and other silk stuffs are manufactured for the home market. Woollens, camlets, hats, table linen, gauzes, artificial flowers, pottery, and earthenware, glass, and paper, are also made in small quantities.