The Sun.
London, England, 1825-03-15 00:00:00

year.

WI NES.—Almost the whole of Greece produces wine. Thoie
most known in commerce come from Cyprus, Santos. Scopelos,
&c. If their mode of making it were improved they would
gain considerably, and many common wines would become ex-
cellent. Part of the Greek wines is exported to Germany by
way of Trieste; but Russia consumes by far the greater part,
which is conveyed by way of the Black Sea.
Oran tx r s.—This fruit grows only in the west and north coast
of the Peloponnesus, in Etolia and Locris, and particularly the
coast of Achaia, also the neighbouring islands of Zante and Ce-
phalonia. The English buy np the greatest quantity. In 1817
the sale of currants in the district of nitres alone yielded
50,000,000 francs.
Si LK S.—The mild climate and serene air of Greece are par-
ticularly favourable to silk-worms. If the practice of grafting
the mulberry trees were introduced, and greater care taken in
the choice of leaves as food for the worms, the, silks would be
prodigiously improved.
WOOL.—Under the Greek Emperors the breed of sheep was
much improved by crosses; but since the conquest of the coun-
try by the Turks those cares have been discouraged and aban-
doned. But notwithstanding this negligence, the Greek sheep
has not lost all his beauty. The sheep of Livadia is more
beautiful than many of the French and other European breeds ;
hut it is the sheep of Arcadia which, even now-a-days, unite
the good qualities of the neighbouring races without their de-
fects. But the fleece is in general badly managed, so that
their wools, when wrought, are generally speckled.
Col-rosrs—The Greek Cotton is not so generally esteemed
as that of the West Indies, being less pure and silky. The cot-
tons of the Levant improve as we proceed southward. The
cotton of Cyprus is superior to that of Smyrna, mid that of the
Peloponnesus bears the palm from that of Thessalia.
'TOBACCO.—The low lands of Greece, from the alluvial na-
ture of the soil, and other accidental circumstances, produce
great luxuriance in all manner of vegetation, and is particu-
larly favourable in the growth of.tobacco,which is an extremely
hungry plant. In general, the tobacco of Greece is considered
the best in Europe.
ATE/MI LLION.—What is called in Mediterranean commerce
vermillion, is a reddish seed, vulgarly called scarlet seed. The
Greeks call it prinococci, that is to say, oak seed, from its grow-
ing on a species of that tree. From its colour, and the insect it
is drawn from, vermilion evidently belongs to the same species
as cochineal. Its colour is beautithl and durable. It is chiefly
gathered in Phocis, Bceotia, Locris, Etolia, and the Pelopon-
nesus ; that found near the sea shore is the best.
SOUTIiE liN Eau ITS.—Under this designation are included
oranges, lemons, citrons, &c. The greater part of the islands
of the Archipelago, and the coasts of the Continent, produce
them all in abundance. The greatest exportation is to the nor-
thern part of Turkey, in Europe and Asia ; and also to Russia,
by the Black Sea.
Greece produces a quantity of other exportable commodities,
such as madder or alizari, the gall-nut, honey, wax, skins,
opium, gum-dragon, carpeting, timber, tar, rosin, &e. &c.
The countries which compose independent Greece are the Pe-
loponnesus, Attica, Bceotia, Phocis, Locris, Etolia, Acarnania,
and A grapha.
The whole of the islands, amounting to one hundred, with
the exception of about a dozen, are under the Greek Govern-
ment. .

PELOPONNESUS.—Since the revolution several coal mines
have been discovered; and there is no doubt but that there are
mines of all sorts, both in the Peninsula and the islands, which
in happier times will be worked. The taxes of this part of
Greece before the revolution amounted to 6,000,000 francs.
During the revolution the Turkish population has all perished,
except a few families who have, upon capitulation, been con-
veyed to Asia. But the population has nevertheless been
doubled by the emigration of Greeks from Asia Minor. In the
flourishing periods of Greek history this peninsula reckoned
3,000,000 of inhabitants—it can yet support that number.
ACARNANIA, ETOLIA, AND LOCHIS.—These three pro-
vinces, comprehended under the general name of Western
Greece. produce all the necessaries and many of the luxuries of
life. Timber of a superior quality for ship-building is found
in their mountains. The other productions common to the
whole of Greece abound here. •
PHOCIS, IiCEOTIA, AND ATTICA.—These provinces are.
called in modern geography Eastern Greece. Bceotia is cele-
brated for its corn ; Phocis for its vermillion and madder; and
the honey of Athica, so tamed among the ancients, still pre-
serves its delicious flavour.
ARC irt PEr.m..4o.—We have already mentioned that the
islands subjected to Greece amounted to nearly a hundred.
Forty of these are of more or less importance, by, their marine,
their extent, or their productions. The Archipelago trades'
in fish, salt, sponge, &c. besides the other articles common to.
Greece.
The details of the variety of the sojl, production, and ma-
nofzu tures would fill volume, ; but they would carry U 3 beyond
the limits we have assigned ourselves.