FORESTRY. About 11,000,000 acres, or 15.72 per cent. of the total area of Italy, are under forests, Of this total area, 1,018.052 acres (1.44 her cent.) are ill chestnuts. Only 143,318 acres of forests belong to the Government, but a great part of the forest land is mider Government supervision, which is exercised by the Ministry of Agriculture through a staff who are unable, however. to prevent the devastation of forests. Since 1867 the Government has been trying to -offset the loss by planting new trees. The total value of the forest products is nearly $17,000,000 per annum.
NA cuFAcrctsss, The manufacturing indus tries of Italy are still in a poor condition. Fac tory production on a large scale has taken root only in a small number of industries, where it is indispensable. The most important branch of manufacture is the production of raw silk, which has been referred to under Agriculture in this -article. The industry thrives especially in Pied mont, Lombardy, and Venetia. More than 500, 000 people are employed in the raising of silk worms. Silk spinning and weaving is carried on mostly in the north—Lombardy, and especially the Province of Como. being the centre of the industry. It employs altogether more than 172, 000 workmen. The spinning and weaving of wool and'cotton is on the increase, but the pro duction is not sufficiently large to satisfy the home demand. The same is true of the manu facture of linen and jute articles. The iron and steel industry employs about 90,000 people ex clusive of those employed in the mines. While it has reached such proportions, no great progress can he recorded in regard to its growth, owing largely to Italy's lack of sufficient mineral de posits.
In the manufacture of small metal ware, and especially of finer articles of bronze, silver, and gold requiring high artistic skill. Italy has long enjoyed a wide reputation, the beautiful work turned out by the workshops of Milan, Venice, Genoa, Rome, and Naples finding ready pur chasers among lovers of art throughout the world, The same may be said of the finer va rieties of pottery and glassware. especially the terra-cotta, majolica and faience. and the mosaic, enamel. and pearl work of Venice, Genoa, Leg horn, Florence, and Rome. The marble and alabaster products are no less famous. Altogether some 90.000 people are employed in the above imhistrics. The chemical industry employs over the former fluctuates between 37.500,000 and 40,000,000 pounds; that of the latter increased from 267,000 tons in 187I to 389.000 tons in 1881. 419,000 tons in 1891, and 481,000 ton, in 1898. The manufacture of alcohol, beer and liquors. sugar, glucose, chicory, powder and other explosives, mineral oils, matches, gas, and electricity is subject to Government supervision. None of these industries, however, has reached any large proportions. The sugar industry shows more signs of vitality than any other, although hut of recent date in Italy. In 1898 there were only four sugar refineries. with an annual output of 8000 tons; in 1902 the number of refineries and mills increased to 46, and their output to 55.000 tons.