The New York herald., 1921-06-08

SpecfdI Correspondence TO THE NEW YolK
HERALD.
ROME, May 20.-If country Is to
become really independent and q lead
ing factor in the society Of the world
1t must be in a position to be self
supporting in its principal products
and not eternally dependent on outside
help. Nature has made Italy an agri-
cultural country, while she herself Is
endeavoring to become an industrial
one.
But agriculture undoubtedly repre-
sents the greatest of Italian riches. 1t
contributes about half of the total ma
tional income, employs an imposing
capital, and provides work for two
thirds of the laboring population.
There is no reason. however, why
Italy should not be self-supporting.
Like industry, agriculture Is pass
ing through critical period. During
the war, although special endeavors
were made, she production of the
country was considerably reduced. be-
cause men, animals and fertilizers
were lacking. Since the war strikes
and labor troubles emphasized by the
features OF the present social crisis,
have contributed to the state or de-
preston In which agriculture hnds
itself to-day.
Except In the production OF null
berry leaves In no single branch OF
agriculture did the products for 1920
equal those Of 1918. In many cases
the output was from as per cent. be-
low prewar figures. while the area
under cultivation had much decreased
although the plains OF Venice and
large new provinces had been added
since the armistice.
Much of Land Is Arabic.
France. Hungary and Austria ex-
cepted, Italy has larger productive
area than any other country In Europe,
% per cent. of the geographical surface
being agrarian and forest lands. or this
area 81 per cent is arabic, proportion
which. with the exception OF Denmark,
is the largest In Europe
There are 6.441. 900 hectars OF land
under crops, while $4,000 hectars are
covered with vineyards olive groves. &c.
pasture lands cover 6,326.100 hectars.
hut there remains over 1.o36.oo0 hectars
which might be cultivated TO the benent
os the country. Before the war Italy
imported 15,0o0.0oo duintals Of grain.
GENERALLY 100000 hectars OF land are
sown with grain. and this area has an
average production OF 10 70 j auintah
q nectar, although the average varies In
different parts. the higncst peing IN
Emilia. where 26 quinthls a hectar are
produced. while in Calabria the average
falls 20 SIS.
n should not. therefore. be difficult
,o,- ITALY by increasing the area under
grain. introducing modern methods OF
cultivation and generally intensifying
her agricultural system TO make herself
Independent OF the world for her bread
s,ipply The leading agricultural au-
rNorities throughout the country are OF
the opinion that the average Yield after
the application of modern methods could
be increased by TO quintals a nectar.
II Italy could do away with the neces-
sity OF importing so much grain IL would
be Immediately apparent In the level
ing up of her yearly budget.
Many reasons in the past have con-
tributed to the lack OF development
OF agriculture in italy. Among these
were the antiqusted methods OF EN-
nioyment In the centre and north
the "mezzadria" system, by which the
cuitivator shares the profits with the
proprietor, Is still in force, while In
fhe south the "latifondI," or direct
rental system, is chiefly used. Wages
before the war we're ridiculously and
inlauitously small, the average wage
or man being 1.b0 lire a day. and
that OF woman 80 centesimi. fourteen
hours OF work a day being often re-
ouired for this sum.
Large tracts OF land we're held by
the aristocracy and others. who seldom