TUSCANY. The Grand Dutchy of Tuscany, the ancient Etruria, Tuscia or Thuscia,* is bounded on the west by the Mediterranean; on the north by the dutchies of Lucca and Modena; and on the east and south by the States of the Church. It is of an oblong shape; its superficial extent being 1098 square leagues, and as the population in 1826 amounted to 1,275,000, it averages 1,161 to the square league. It contains five provinces: This Grand Dutchy contains no fewer than 26 towns, 135 burghs, and 6,017 villages. The chief towns are the following: The physical appearance of Tuscany is equally interesting and diversified. The Appenines tra verse it in a south-east direction, but the highest summits of that range in Tuscany do not exceed 3,000 feet. Several smaller chains extend from this celebrated ridge in different directions, declin ing in elevation as they approach the sea. The champaign parts of the country consist chiefly of valleys extending along the banks of the numerous rivers with which the dutchy abounds. The rivers indeed, or rather streams, are so many, that they have been estimated at 200, all of which have their rise in the A ppeuines, or the mountains that diverge from them, and flow into the Mediterranean. The most important are the Arno, the Onnbrone, and the Chiana. The valley of the Arno, it may here be mentioned, has been much celebrated. At a remote period, when Florence and Pisa were distinguished commercial cities, it was embellished with the villas of wealthy merchants. It is now inhabited by work men, and in it are manufactured the linen stuffs that form an important article in the commerce of the grand dutchy, as well as those straw hats which, under the name of Leghorn hats, are known in every part of the world.
The climate of Tuscany may be regarded as on the whole agreeable and favourable, and character ized by that mildness, serenity and salubrity for which Italy has always been remarkable. But this description must not be taken in an unqualified sense. The sirocco or south-east wind, so preva lent in the south of Italy, rages to a most baleful extent in Tuscany, blasting the hopes and destroy ing the labours of the vine-dresser and the agricul turist. The district, known by the name of the
Maremma, is probably the most unhealthful spot in Europe, and is as remarkable for its pestilential humidity as other parts of the same dutchy are for their fertility or beautifully diversified scenery. It stretches along the sea coast, from Pisa southward, and in superficial extent is equal to about 1,700 English square miles. It consists nearly of one continued marsh; it is comparatively destitute of inhabitants, the population being only forty persons to a square mile; and though means have already been used, and others are still contemplated, for draining and cultivating this unproductive district, it still remains as barren and as noxious as ever. The Maremma is chiefly devoted to pasturage.
Notwithstanding the general fertility of Tuscany, agriculture has not been brought to a very improved state. There is indeed no instance of a large farm, the country being subdivided into such small patches, that in some cases a pair of oxen is sufficient to per form the ploughing necessary in six or eight such lots. The most fertile portions of the dutchy are devoted to the cultivation of vines and olive trees; and almost all the corn fields also, are intersected by rows of these and other fruit trees. The pea santry are so poor, that even in the case of such patches, the landlord is obliged to supply part or the whole of the farming implements; a wretched system of farming, to which the name metayrie (the coloni partiarii of the Latins) has been applied. The Tuscans, however, display great ingenuity in irrigating their lands, and in extending cultivation along the declivities of their hills and mountains.
Some towns in Tuscany, particularly Florence and Pisa, were at one time remarkable for com mercial enterprise. But circumstances are now changed. Leghorn is now the only port of any consequence. Its exports consist of wine, oil of olives, fruit of various kinds, perfumed essences, linen, woollens, Leghorn straw, manufactured silks of various sorts, marble: its imports are confined chiefly to articles from the north of Europe, and from the Levant, including tropical commo dities.