Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1871.djvu/354

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ITALY.

It will be seen, comparing the preceding table with the other, giving the statistics of the 86 provinces, that the increase of popu- lation between the years, 1857-61, period of war and warlike movements, was very small, not amounting to more than 73,624. Since 1861, the increase is calculated to have been at the rate of nearly one per cent, per annum. The density of population is greatest in Lombardy and the Island of Sicily; and it is least in the Island of Sardinia. In Lombardy and Sicily, the population has increased most rapidly of late years, and, next to them, in the Island of Sardinia and the Neapolitan provinces.

It is calculated that only two-thirds of the area of the kingdom capable of production are cultivated, and that the rest lies waste.

The superficial extent of the productive soil of Italy is 23,017,096 Ellaras, or hectares, divided thus: —

Arable land Meadow land Rice grounds Olive plantations Chestnut plantations Woods and forests Pastures

Total

Hectares 11,003,061

1,173,436 144,903 554,767 585,132

4,158,349

5,397,448

23,017,096

There are besides 3,997,057 hectares of rock and marsh, which, being considered as unproductive, are not liable to the land tax.

Of the land capable of cultivation, more than half is devoted to the growth of cereals, the annual produce of which is estimated as follows : —

Hectolitres

Wheat. . . ... . ... . 34,397,168

Maize 16,352,141

Eye 2,799,951

Barley and oats 7.467,239

Rice. 1,433,398

Other cereals 6,543,905

Total 68,993,802

The average crop is insufficient for the supply of the country.

The great mass of the people in Italy are devoted to agricultural pursuits, and the town population is comparatively small. The number of inhabitants of the principal towns was as follows, accord- ing to an enumeration of 1864 : —