THE APENNINE FORELAND—WEST COAST.—This includes several distinct physical regions. The greater part of Tuscany consists of an intermingling of hill and plain. In the Apuan hills in the north, limestones of Triassic and lower Jurassic times have been converted into marble and are quarried at Carrara. The chief agricultural products are olives, the oil from which is much in demand ; vines, from which the well-known Chianti wine is made ; and wheat, which forms the basis of the straw-plaiting industry of the district. Along the coast of Tuscany is the Maremma, a lowlying strip of land built up of debris brought down by the rivers, and swept in by the current. Formerly it was marshy and unhealthy, but drainage has converted much of it into rich pasture land, and it is now an important dairying district. Further south on both sides of the lower Tiber, and occupying a considerable part of Latium, is the region to which the name Campagna is somewhat loosely given. The soil consists of volcanic debris, but, although it is fertile, it is lowlying, subject to flooding, and productive of malaria. Hence it is devoted mainly to grazing purposes, and there are few inhabitants. Attempts at reclamation have been made, and it is possible that it may ultimately regain its ancient fertility. On the volcanic soil of the Alban Hills and of Campania are some of the richest districts in all Italy, olives, vines, figs, and other fruits being grown in great profusion. In Campania, especially, where there are many opportunities for irrigation, the methods of cultivation are intensive, and the individual holdings are small. Accordingly, there is a dense population.
Manufactures are growing up around the principal towns. Leg horn, in addition to long-established industries such as the pre paration of olive oil and the plaiting of straw, has recently estab lished copper and glass works. Florence is the centre of the straw hat industry, and makes large quantities of macaroni, both pursuits being based on the wheat production of the surrounding country. Rome is still largely a non-manufacturing city, but, with the development of the water-power of the Aniene at Tivoli and Subiaco, it is likely to make rapid progress in the near future. Naples has made the greatest advance within recent years. In order to encourage industrial development the municipality has offered, practically free, sites and water-power for manufacturing establish ments, and has remitted for two years all taxation of manufacturers who settle in the town. Accordingly, a varied selection of industrial concerns, including textile factories, sugar mills, and motor works, has sprung up within the free zone. All these are under the disadvantage of being unable to draw upon a supply of skilled labour. On the other hand, what labour exists is cheap, water power is available, and there is a good port. To what extent the main disadvantage will be overcome remains to be seen, but the prospects appear to be fairly good.