El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-04-15
HOW THE GREEKS MAKE FORTUNES IN RAILS
ING THE MATERIALS FOR AMERI-
CAN PLUM PUDDING.
The Farms of Eleusis and the Vineyards Of Corinth.
How Grain Is Raised-A Look at Farm Village
The Honey of Hynettus Greek Country
Girls-Queer Customs of Love and
Marriage When Xanthippe
Is Silent
Copyright 1911. by Frank C. Carpenter,

tries by sea. The export is sometimes
as much as 100000 pounds per an
num-
A Crop for America.
Since this conversation I have made
some inquiries about the Zante cur
rant, as it is called, and am wondering
If it cannot be produced in America.
We are now taking about 5000 tons
every year and this is about one
twelfth CT the whole crop. We have
all sorts of climates, and some which
correspond to that of COrinth. Parts
of California and Arizona must be Of
that nature. 1 am told that the cur
rants often produce a ret of $40 per
acre and that a currant vineyard will
sell for $500 or $500 per acre. The
vines begin to yield in their fourth
year, and are in their prime at II
years. They will keep on bearing for
so years, and vines are shown here
which are said to be 100 years old.
The vines are planted and cared for as
in most grape growing countries. The
currants are ripe in August and are
easily dried and packed for shipment.
/ am told that the inferior part of the
crop now goes to Marseille, where it
is used in making the cheaper French
wines, being mixed with grapes for
that purpose.
In addition to the Zante currant
Greece produces fine muscatels and
sultanas and also grapes which make
excellent wine The native wines are
so cheap that the common man has
wine at his meals. Many of the farm
ers make their own wines after the
old style. in which the juice is trodden
out by the bare feet of the girls of the
family.
Grain Farming.
1 saw but little wheat on my way
across Greece, although am told both
wheat and barley are grown The
most of the wheat used is imported
from Russia. Some is still raised on
the plain of Thessaly, which in the
past was the bread basket of the coun-
try. This plain is now divided up
irto estates owned by a very few
people, who rent the lands for two
thirds Of the crop. The government
proposes to buy the larger farms and
sell them off to the peasants on long
time at low prices.
Another increase in the farming
lands Of Greece will come from the
draining Of Lake Kopais. This will
add about 10000 acres. and 1 am told
that there is more which may be
brought into use. AS it is now, less
waited and only about one-tenth is used
for grazing. The only farms of any
size are those in Thessaly and in the
Kopais basin.
Poor AgricuIturists.
The Greeks are very backward as
to their farming methods. They are
using the same tools their ancestors
did when old Athens was in the height
of its glory. The wheat is cut with
the sickle and bound with the hand
The threshing is done with fails, or
the grain is trodden out by bullocks.
Much of the work is done by women
and girls. Oxen are used for plow-
ing. and the plow is a forked stick
with a rude share at the end. Fertil-
izers are almost unknown and no ro-
tation Of crops is practiced The peo-
pie plant the same grain year after
year, until the fields are worn out.
and then let them lie fallow until they
recuperate. The soil is thin and light,
but if irrigated it produces bounti-
fully. One Of the great troubles is
lack of water.
How the Farmers Live.
In the summer many of the farmers
sleep out of doors and live largely in
the open air. The country houses are
almost everywhere poor and rather
mean in comparison with those Of
other European countries They have
stone floors and the poorer ones have
neither windows nor chimneys. Some