Climate.—The climate of Sicily resembles that of the other lands in the extreme south of Europe. As regards temperature, it has the warm and equable character which belongs to most of the Mediterranean region. At Palermo in only seven of the 30 years 1871-1900, was the thermometer observed to sink below the freezing-point ; frost thus occurs in the island even on the low grounds, though never for more than a few hours. On the coast snow is seldom seen, but it does fall occasionally. On the Madonie it lies till June, on Etna till July. The annual rainfall, except on the higher mountains, does not reach 3oin., and it occurs chiefly in the winter months, while during June, July and August the whole rainfall does not exceed gin., except on the slopes of the mountains in the north-east. Hence most of the streams dry up in summer. The chief scourge is the scirocco, which is experienced in its most characteristic form on the north coast.
Flora.—The flora of Sicily is remarkable for its wealth of species. The families most abundantly represented 'are the Compositae, Cruciferae, Labiatae, Caryophyllaceae and Scrophu lariaceae. The Rosaceae are also abundantly represented, and among them are numerous species of the rose. The general aspect of the vegetation of Sicily, however, has been greatly affected, as in other parts of the Mediterranean, by the introduction of plants within historical times. Besides the olive, all the members of the orange tribe, the agave and prickly pear have been intro duced since the beginning of the Christian era. With respect to vegetation and cultivation three zones may be distinguished. The first reaches to about 1,60oft. above sea-level, the upper limit of the members of the orange tribe; the second ascends to about t., the limit of the growth of wheat, the vine and the hardier evergreens; and the third, that of forests, reaches from about 3,3ooft. upwards. Among other trees may be mentioned the sumach, the date-palm, the plantain, various bamboos, cycads, and the dwarf-palm. The Arundo Donax, the tallest of European grasses, is largely grown for vine-stakes.
Population.—For the area and population of the several provinces see ITALY. Between 1881 and 1901 the population in creased at the rate of 20.5% and between 1901 and 1921 at the rate of 13.8%. The average density is extremely high for a country which lives almost exclusively by agriculture, and is much higher than the average for Italy in general.
Agriculture.—Two types of agriculture prevail in Sicily— the extensive and the intensive. The former covers mainly the
interior of the island and half the southern coast, whilst the lat ter is generally adopted on the eastern and northern coasts. Large holdings of well over i,000ac. are indispensable to the profitable pursuit of extensive agriculture.
Intensive agriculture in Sicily is limited to fruit trees and f ruit bearing plants. Large extents of land along the coasts are exclusively cultivated as vineyards, or as olive, orange and lemon groves. The by-products of the citrus-essences, citrate of lime, etc., are also of some importance. Vegetables are grown chiefly in the neighbourhood of large cities. Almonds are freely culti vated, and they seem to be the only trees susceptible also of cultivation upon the latifondi together with grain. A large export trade in almonds is carried on with north and central Europe. Hazelnuts are grown in woods at a level of more than 1,200ft. above the sea. These also are largely exported to central Europe for use in confectionery. The locust bean (used for forage), figs and peaches are widely grown, while in certain zones the pistachio and the manna-ash yield rich returns. On the more barren soil the sumach shrub, the leaves of which are used for tanning, and the prickly pear grow freely. The latter fruit constitutes, with bread, the staple food of the poorest part of the rural population for several months in the year.
Climatic conditions prevent cattle-raising in Sicily from being as prosperous an undertaking as in central Italy. The total num ber of bullocks in the island is calculated to be 221,357 (1918). Sheep and goats, which subsist more easily on scanty pasturage, are more numerous, the total number being calculated at 1,553,623. The wool harvest is scanty, and the production of butter a negli gible quantity, though there is abundance of the principal product of Sicilian pasture lands, cheese of various kinds, for which there is a lively local demand. The Sicilian race of horses would be good but has degenerated in consequence of insufficient nourishment and overwork. A better breed of horses is being obtained by more careful selection, and by crossing with Arab and English stallions imported by the Government.
The absence of forests, which cover hardly 3% of the total area of the island, constitutes a serious obstacle to the prosperity of Sicilian pastoral and agrarian undertakings. The few remaining forests are almost all grouped around Etna and upon the high zone of the Madonian mountains. Plans for reforesting certain areas have been advanced.