Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 09.djvu/235

* GREECE, 205 GREECE, thirtecntli part of the country being woodland ; and nuniorous herds of goats tend to Uill the young growths and prevent the rehabilitation of the forest areas, which were once far more extensive. The nature of the llora varies with altitude, three distinct zones being recognized. All the truits and grains of the ilediterranean lands arc raised from the sea-level to an eleva- tion 01 1500 feet. The tree zone is mainly be- tween 1500 and 5000 feet, the oak and beech predominating in the lower, and conifers in the higher altitudes. There are still some line forest areas among the mountains. Alpine conditions prevail above 5000 feet, where only a few Vi-ild plants find a foothold in the thin soil. Many of the mountains are almost bare of vegetation; and the natural vegetation on the plains only consists of grasses, scattered clumps of ever- green shrubs, and small patches of woodland. Fau.n'a. The be<ir, boar, fo.x, wildcat, lynx, and jackal are the most conspicuous wild ani- mals. Several varieties of deer, hare, and rabbit, besides quails, partridges, and pheasants, are the game animals. Geology. Western Greece, including two- thirds of the mainland and nearly all the Pelo- ponnesus, is composed of the long, parallel lime- stone ridges of Tertiary formation, of the Di- naric mountain system, the narrow troughs that separate them being schists and sandstone. This mountain region is a part of the Karst system which extends along the Adriatic; for, farther north, it exhibits the characteristic Karst phe- nomena of caverns, sink-holes, and underground liver channels, leaving much of the land dry and relatively barren. Some of the limestone has hardened into the purest marble. The same lime- stone formation built up the Ionian Islands, once a part of the mainland. The rocks of Northeast Greece arc of a different character, being the contiiuiation of the crystalline rocks that built up the mountains of Thrace and Macedonia. Farther south, the eastern part of Central Greece, the island of Eubtea, and the northeastern part of the Peloponnesus are covered with mountain chains of Mesozoic limestone extending in curves from west to east. The crystalline rocks of the Cyclades form the mountains, comparatively low, of these islands. Severe earthquakes often origi- nate among the mountains. Greece is not rich in minerals, though the argentiferous lead-mines of Laurion. near the southeastern extremity of At- tica, yield about 30.000 tons of lead a year. There is no coal except the lignite found in Eu- hisR. The lack of fuel prevents the large ex- ploitation of the copper and iron fields, though important quantities of iron and zinc ores are obtained. Paros and Pentelicus yield fine mar- ble, and emery is obtained in Naxos and other islands. Sulphur (about 600 tons a year) is mined in Melos and Santorini. Agriculture. As cultivation depends largely upon irrigation, which is very unequally dis- tributed, the tilled lands in most parts of the country resemble oases. Cereals occupy about halt of the tilled lands, but w'heat is among the imports, the home supply being inadequate. Rice is grown in the lowlands of Elis. and maize, bar- ley, and oats are raised to some extent. The Greek currant (a small seedless grape), grown extensively on some of the Ionian Islands and near the gulfs nf Patras and Corinth, is a large crop and the staple of agricultural exports. The vine is of first importance in Greek agriculture, the area in vineyards liaving increased from 125,- 000 acres in 1800 to 250.000 acres in IIJOO. While currants are the chief crop, the production of w ine has increased and the <|ualily has in later times improved. Being rich in ahohol and color, Greek wines are benight by many French merchants to mix with home vintages. As the (irecks live largely on vegetables and fruits. gar<lening is a great industry, well-tilled ganU'iis being very numerous near the towns and on the plains. Flax, hemp, tobacco, cotton, and the mulberry- tree supply the industries with raw material. The cultivation of flax and hemp has decreased on account of Russian competition, but tobacco, yielding excellent leaf, is an increasing cro]i, par- ticularly on the plains of Argolis and around the Gulf of Corinth. Mulberry plantations abound in the Peloponnesus and Eubcca. where raw silk is ])roduced, both for home industry and ex))ort. Cotton is raised in the Peloponnesus, but finds the most congenial soil and climate in Thessaly and Boeotia. During the Turkish domination olive- growing steadily declined, as one metho<l of pun- ishing insurrection was to destroy the olive-trees. Since 1830. however, the planting has rapidly ad- vanced, and olives are to-day one of the best re- sources of the Greek peasantrv. The trees have increased from 2.000.000 to l.S.OOO.OOO since (ireece won independence. Fruit-trees are im- portant, above all in the Ionian Islands and the •Egcan Archipelago, oranges, lemons, figs, and pomegranates leading in production. The most important domestic animals are sheep (2.900.000 in 1892) and goats, from whose milk butter am! cheese are made. Goats are raised everywhere, but the large flocks of sheep are found mostly on the plains of Thessaly. Bee-culture is important and the honey of Hymettus is famous. The coun- try abounds with fragrant flowers that give to honey a particularly delightful savor. While agriculture is the eliief resource of the ])eople, the prevailing poverty of the soil prevents it from being so large an element of prosperity as in many other countries ; and an undue propor- tion of the [jeasants are attracted from labor in the fields to the life of the sailor. To a large extent the land is in the hands of the peasant proprietors, though there are some great estates, particularly in Thessaly. Of the total area there are .■). 360,000 acres cultivated and fallow. 1.280.- 000 pasture. 1,900,000 forest, and 9,500,000 waste land. Manufactures. Most of the common articles used in Greece are the product of home industry. Cloths and carpets are woven by peasant women in their houses, and the metal and leather goods industries employ thousands of men in their small shops. The poorer classes derive most of their manufactured articles from the home industries. The development of large industries is discouraged by the fact that Greece has neither coal. wood, water-power, nor adequate capital. Since 1870, however, the industrial arts have made important progress, and the Government does all in its power to stimulate manufacturing. The cotton cloths now produced in the factories of the Pirreus and other centres supply most of the home needs, and are even exported to Turkey. The Pinicus is the largest industrial centre. It has a number of cotton, silk, and wool factories, many flour-mills: it builds ships and makes ali- mentary pastes. Larissa is also prominent in the