29. AGRICULTURE IN ITALY. Italy, by reason of its geographical situation, although in the Temperate Zone, gives us a synthesis of the vegetation of Europe. Next to Switzerland it is the most mountainous country in Europe. Two-thirds of its surface are cov ered by the mountain chain of the Alps and by the Apennines, and about one-fifth must be classed as wholly unproductive of vegetation, from natural causes. The remaining portion is only partially cultivated, and is only fairly pro ductive in certain portions.
Italy contains the great plain of the basin of the Po (ITALY - PHYSICAL GmGRAPHY), and the smaller plains which extend along the Med iterranean, in the Pisan, Grossetan, Roman and Campanian territory; along the Adriatic in the tableland of Apulia; and also along the Cala brian, Sicilian and Sardinian sea coast, where they are smaller.
Climatology.— Sicily and lower Italy, as regards the rainfall, have an absolutely littoral climate, with a minimum of rain in summer, and a maximum in winter. The valley of the Po, on the contrary, has an inland climate with two maximums of rain, in spring and in au tumn, and two minimums, in summer and in winter. Central Italy has an uncertain climate, but resembles more that of the sea coast, with a maximum of rain in November and a mini mum in July. On the Mediterranean slopes the rainfall is much greater than on the Adriatic side. Hailstorms are most frequent in the Al pine zone, extending to the foot of the Rhetian Alps, the Carinthian and the Julian Alps; and in a Tyrrhenian belt from the Arno to Calabria; and less frequent in a Paduan belt beginning at the Maritime Alps, the Cotian, Graie and Pennine Alps, and extending to the east as far as the mouths of the Po; and in an Adriatic belt which extends from the Marches to the Salentine peninsula and to Sicily.
Agricultural Regions.— The agricultural regions of Italy may be divided into five: (1), The acid fruit region; (2) the olive region; (3) the vine-growing region; (4) the chestnut region; (5) the forest region, which it is hard to define exactly.
Agriculture presents itself under the most different aspects, as it partakes of the character of northern as well as southern cultivation. Rye, buckwheat, potatoes, chestnuts, are prin cipally cultivated in the Alps, in the Apennines and their spurs. In the rolling country and in the central belt, wheat, maize, grapevines, le guminous seed-plants, hemp and flax are grown. In the plains and in the hilly regions of the most southerly portions olives, almonds and acid fruits thrive, and at one time, in the ex treme edge of the peninsula and in Sicily, cot ton was a favorite crop.
Principal Crops.— According to statements published in 1916 there were 51,309,310 acres under crops; 11,272,339 acres afforested; °waste land)) constituting 7.4 per cent of the whole; tilled land 45.4 per cent; pasture 25.6 per cent; and vineyards and orchards 4.9 per cent. The principal crops in 1915 were wheat, barley, oats; rye, maize, rice, beans, potatoes, sugar beet-root, grapes and olives. A careful analysis of reports of the Superintendent of Agriculture and Others which refer to the years 1892-1909 shows beyond question substantial progress in Italian agricul ture which is especially noticeable in the last 10 years, and this progress was much more marked in northern Italy (particularly in Venetia and Emilia) ; it was less noticeable in central Italy; there was little or no improve ment in southern Italy and the islands. Large areas of forest lands have been replanted by, or with the assistance of, the government in the last 50 years, and the forest produce amounts in value to $35,800,000 annually.
Breeding of Domestic Animals.— Cattle exceed probably 5,000,000 head, and they con tinue to increase, especially in upper and middle Italy. Of the Italian breeds the most general is that with the gray saddle which occupies the centre and south of the peninsula. Then come the great. Piedmont breed and the red saddle cattle of Emilia.