The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-11-16

satisfy this wish on the part of the guests thus thrust upon them, and neariy the entire supply of cornmeal went to the exiles. Most people know, I suppose, that what the Italians call polenta is only what Americans call "mush.' and it is eaten either boiled simply or fried where that is possible. The great trouble with this article of food in Italy is, as is also fairly well known, that it is supposed, on good authority, to be the source Of the dreadful disease called pellagra, which has crept into the southern states of America in recent years. Lombroso thought so, and wrote books to prove 1t, and many other scientists are of his opin- ion. tI is generally conceded, however, that the trouble comes only from the use of unhealthy grain, or from insufficient cooking of the meal Much of the corn which has come over from America ana has been so welcome has arrived damp from the hold of the ships in which 1t was carried, and before being distributed to the people has had to be analysed and examined for fear of bringing disease into the country. It is hoped that this evil will sl8rtly be remedied as the corn is so greatly needed and is insufficient al present in Italy.
 There was less of a wehat crop this year than last owing, of course. to the large number of men absent at planting. But next summers production should be much larger than the country has ever produced since the beginning of the war, and even beyond that. The government is putting it in the way of the farmers to get fertilizers at comparatively easy rate, and the fields which have been starving for nourishment during these -four years should respond very quickly to the needed stimulant. So the grain out look is good. That Is everything to Italy, to people who cannot think of any kind of food unaccompanied by bread, and it is to them the one essential part of the meal Good as a piece of bread'' is the often-quoted proverb, and shows the popular valuation of this every day part of ones diet.
 Another thing which counts very much
 in Italy's wheat production is the straw, which plays such an important part iR another great industry, the making of hats. Hundreds of people are employed in this work. and it is one which yields a good profit to the exporter. This is coming mp again with greater strength than ever since the war.
 Many of the less important crops which have also fallen off, the special sort of things will come into cultivation again. The mulberry trees, for instance, without whose foiase it is impossible to raise silkworms properly. have suffered severely in many parts of the country, particularly in the invaded districts. where, silk culture was largely carried on In many of these places the null berry was one of the principal trees, and numbers of them have been destroyed by bombardments, ard more must be plant ed. Italy's silk production is very inn portant; she is the country which pro- duces this article, both in Europe and the Levant.
 {x. tain of the "redeemed' provinces, all over the trentino and around Gorizia, and in Istria, the sill<worm flourishes par ticularly well, and this is another asset for Italy.
 Another product of Italian soil is hemp, and as at present Russia, which used to send out large quantities of this article,
 is out of the running, Italy is the prin- cipal exporter of hemp in Europe, ship ping about 900 quintals yearly, of the raw article. while the balance is treated in factories in the country itself. I have seen hemp growing everywhere in little fields and patches, and in larger fac- tories, and an old-fashioned rope walk is not an uncommon sight. especially in the neighborhood of Lucca. One at Vi- areggio used to entertain me greatly.
 The outlook this year for the olive oil seems good. This is so all over the coun- try though in Tuscanay the weather has been rather too dry and hot of late. and rain which was needed has only just be- gun to fall. But unless there come severe storms, or the olive is attacked by the late insect enemies, there should be good oil It is devoutly hoped that there will be, for we really cannot get along with out oil in Italy. Butter is very high in price and short in quantity, and many people do not want it if they can get goo doil. But that has been very expen- sive for long time, and not always to be had and iti difficult for the Ital- ians to cook without it. Olive trees are hardy but they need careful and judcious pruning and watch must be kept over them and insects prevented from preying on theftrees and their fruit; and the lack