Malaga is at the foot of a large range of mountains the sides of which are covered with vineyards. You know that those delicious white grapes that we get in the markets come from Malaga. Do you know how they grow? The vineyards on the sides of hills or mountains are planted row after row, only a few feet apart, and each row a little higher than the one before it. Every vine is like a little tree by itself, with a trench dug around it to catch the water when it rains. The soil of the vineyards is red. After the grapes are picked, they are packed in cork dust and sent to other parts of Europe and to America.
Raisins and wine also come from Malaga in large quantities. They are both made from grapes—raisins by drying the grapes in the sun, and wine from the juice of grapes; so you see how many must be picked every year. Figs and almonds grow in Malaga, and olives. All these things, you know, grow only where it is very warm and sunny. If we went to Spain we should see many olive trees. They look something like plum trees, but are knotty and gnarled and the leaves are a darker green. When the olives are ripe they are a dark glossy purple.
Return from the Grape-picking, Malaga, Spain
From Stereograph, copyright by Underwood & Underwood, New York
DRIVING A DOG-TEAM IN HOLLAND
See these good old dogs harnessed like horses, drawing the strange-looking cart! Do you think your dog would run quietly along the street if you harnessed him this way? I do not believe he would, but these dogs are used to being driven, so they do not mind it at all; in fact they expect to draw a cart, as the dogs in Holland often do.
To-day is market-day, and the Dutch peasant woman is just coming from town where she has sold all her vegetables and flowers. See the garden just beyond the fence in the picture. What do you think these flowers are? A great many tulips, hyacinths and crocuses are grown in Holland. It is a great gardening country; every bit of ground is cultivated, and the kingdom is like one big garden crossed by many canals like silver threads.
There is a high tower in Utrecht, one of the cities, from which one can see almost the whole country spread out like a map, and it is such a pretty view. The meadows are bright green, and along the canals willow trees, elms and poplars are seen. Dotted here and there are pretty little villages with houses painted in bright colours, and everywhere are windmills with huge sails. They are used to grind corn and to pump the water from the canals, and in addition to being so useful are very picturesque.
The people of Holland are very neat; every day their houses, sidewalks, and streets are cleaned, and everything put in its best condition.