41 8 AGRICULTURE. 



hydraulic engineers, by the Emperor Frederick I., in the thir- 

 teenth century. Silk-worms were imported from Greece into 

 Sicily, by Roger, the first king of that island, in 1 146, but they did 

 not extend to the continental states for many years afterwards. 



In the early part of the fourteenth century, the inhabitants of 

 the south of Italy were strangers to many of the conveniences 

 of life. They were ignorant of the proper cultivation of the 

 vine, and the common people were just beginning to wear 

 shirts. The Florentines were the only people of Italy who, at 

 that time, traded with England and France. The works of 

 Crescenzio are, in great part, a compilation from the Roman 

 authors; but an edition published in Basle, in 1.548, and illus- 

 trated with figures, may probably be considered as indicating 

 the implements then in use. The plow is drawn by only one 

 ox, but different kinds, to be drawn by two and four oxen, are 

 described in the text. A driver is also mentioned, which shows 

 that the plowmen in those days were less expert than during 

 the time of the Romans, who did not use drivers. A wagon is 

 described, with a wooden axle and low wooden wheels, each wheel 

 formed either of one piece or of four pieces joined together. 

 Knives, scythes, and grafting-tools, as well as their use, are 

 figured. Sowing was then performed exactly as it was among 

 the Romans, and is still, in most parts of Europe, where a 

 sowing-machine is not employed. The various hand tools for 

 stirring and turning the soil are described and exhibited, and 

 the Roman bidens shown as in use for cultivating the vine. 

 All the agricultural and horticultural plants described by Pliny 

 are treated of, but no others. 



Towards the end of the sixteenth century, Torrello's " Ricordo 

 d' Agriculture " was published. In 1584 Pope Sixtus, accord- 

 ing to Harte, forced his subjects to work, that they might 

 pay the heavy taxes imposed on them, and by this means ren- 

 dered them contented and happy, and himself rich and powerful. 

 He found them sunk in sloth, overrun with pride and poverty, 

 and lost to all sense of civil duties ; but he recovered them 

 from that despicable state, first to industry, and next to plenty 

 and regularity. Naples being at that period a Spanish province, 

 the wars in which Spain was engaged obliged her to put a tax 

 upon fruit ; and as fruits were not only the chief delicacies but 



