The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1871-11-09
Agriculture in Italy.

The kingdom Of Italy now cmbra-
ccs an area of 10000 square miles,
and n population Of 2G,0O0,0O0.
In 1860 the surface Of Italy, in
Guiding Vcnctia and the Roman
States, was thus distributed Arabic
lands, including vineyards, 2o,7l0,lG7
acres; natural and artificial grass
lands, 3,7I2,772 acres; rice planta-
lions, 3G3,742 acres; olive groves,
l,j03, 32 acres; chestnut groves,
!, GU0,9T acres; woods and forests,
l2,OSS,S22 acres ;pasturagc, l6,7ol,Sl7
acres; marshes, lakes, &c, 3,V5,S35
acres; waste lands, from G,jOO,0O0 to
5000. coo acres; making a total OF
about 100000 acres. Onc-half Of
soil that ia cultivated is devoted to
cereals, while only 4 per cent. of the
entire surface is devoted to the cult
waited grasses cattle and other do
nestle animals are, therefore. nu-
mcrouS. In the whole Of Italy the
estimated number of domestic ami
mails is given as follows: Horses,
l4G2,Sl6; cattle, 4,007,I72; sheep,
9,73G,lOl swine, I,OjO,O2l; goats,
2,Gl5,i27. This is only onc-fiith the
number of domestic animals in the
United States in 1863. The annual
average Of cereal and other produce
tons, in bushels, is as follows {:
Wheat, l0l,4S4,23G maize, lS,727,33O;
rice, 3,972,32j; chestnut, l5,77l,0OO;
potatoes. 27,704 l57; other vegetables
ll,S99,l7S. or oil the average is
l,77j,S40 hcclolitcrs, and Of wine,
3l,977,Sl9 hcctoliters. Northern Italy
IS IN higher state Of cultivation than
the southern portion. Among the
hills of Piedmont, which are as O,774
to 0,22G of plain, and more particu-
larly where the vine is cultivated,
the land is mainly owned by small
farmers, in lots averaging from ~
to ~ acres, but OF the plains, es-
pccially where rice is grown, the
farms are large, ranging from 100
acres to $500 and upward, and are
generally leased to substantial farm
ers. The principal products arc
wheat, rice, Indian corn, oats, rye and
other grains, vines and mulberry
trees, lucernc, 1laXand hemp apples,
peaches, pears, cherries, chestnuts
and walnuts. Irrigation is general
upon the plains. Tie yield Of wheat
however, owing to defective tillage
is only about one-third Of the Eng
lish average per acre. Experiments
have proved that it may be doubled
with proper cultivation. The use of
improved agricultural machines,
hitherto discouraged, and Of COM
ulercial fertilizers, is increasing. The
cultivation of the vine in Piedmont
is also receiving greater attention,
the old practice of %fcstooning having
been generally abandoned, and the
improved French methods Of culture
substituted. In Lombardy there is
much activity in agricultural pur-
suits. As in Piedmont, small farms
are common in hil!y districts, and
large farms on the plains. Most Of
the latter are irrigated. On the
small Mountain farms the spade is
largely used, as it is also on the hills
of Piedmont. The cultivation of
the vine and mulberry trees, with
wheat and other graip& prevails IN
the hills Of Lombardy, while rice,
flax and hay are grown on the plains.
Silk is the staple product. Cattle
arc generally kept by all farmers,
and the country is rich in butter and
cheese. In Vcnctia non of the &C.
reals are largely cultivated, but are
mostly imported from the I%TaNi
aud the nlacl: Sea, IN thp ifomau
Status ana the PROVINCES which in
medintely join them, the modes Of
culture are very rude, and the pro-
duction Is, of Uoursp, very limi'0d.
The subdivision Of the soil
throughout Italy is much more ia,
vorabic to farmers Of small means
thnn the English system Of large
landed estates, but is not 50 minute
and impoverished as that which pre-
wills in France. In a population of
2G,0OO,OOO the number of landed
proprieto,s il given al 4,l5u,lalu. with
an average Of ~? acres each. In
Piedmont and Sicily, ono in four Is q
Iand-holder: in Param and Lombar-
dy, one in six; in Tuscany, one in
thirteen and in all Italy, in 1862,
seycgtc2n il oH9 hpEdrrd 9wned
land. The most subdivisions arc in