THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, JULY 27, 1908. AGRICULTURAL CONDITION OF SPAIN.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9152, 27 July 1908, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, JULY 27, 1908. AGRICULTURAL CONDITION OF SPAIN.

The agricultural condition of Spain is very critical, if we may judge by an article by Luis del Valle in "La Lectura." Out of a total superficial area of 50,451,688 hectares (one hectare is equal to 2£ acres of land) capable of cultivation, 24,055,547 hectares are used as pastures, woods, etc., 21,702,880 are cultivated, and 4.693,261 are unproductive. There fore only 43 per cent is utilised for cultivation. The area under cultivation, moreover, is very unequally divided, for of the 21| millions of hectares there are 10,295,066 devoted to cereals, 1,444,174 to vineyards, 1,333,383 to olives, and 2,630,267 to miscellaneous products. Unable to gain a livelihood by means of their work on the land, the agricultural labourers and the farmers as well are leaving the country to try their luck elsewhere. It is not possible to give exact figures. There are official statistics in reepici of those who have

quitted the country by sea, but none concerning those who; have emigrated by the simple process of crossing the frontier. The official figures show 8,000 in round numbers for the period of 1891 to 1900, and the probability is that the "frontier" figures would total double that number. The causes of this serious condition of the agricultural or agrarian industry may be sumn,ed up in a few words. Spain has not kept abreast of the times. There is a great want of scientific knowledge. It is hardly fair to say that the agriculturist is''ignorant, because the general level of education is low, r.nd the agriculturist is no worse than others in their respective spheres of activity. The improvement of agrarian conditions should undertaken by the Government and carried out on business lines, for the agricultural industry is of vital importace. The area under cultivation should be increased and there should be no such unequal distribution as now exists. Cereals should Have their proportion and in the right districts, and the same remark applies to other products.