ITALY :— WINE AND SILK. 91 



grape-vines ; in the valley, fields ; and the fields arc surrounded 

 by mulberry-trees, of which, each year, the growth of the last is 

 trimmed off, so that there shall be new and more tender leaves for 

 the food of the silk-worm. As the tree is low, the leaves do not 

 spread, and are easily gathered. The production of silk here is 

 very extensive and profitable. "When I reach Genoa I shall ex- 

 amine this subject thoroughly. 



The vines on the hills are planted in two different ways — some 

 by trees, and allowed to run over them ; the others by trellis- 

 work. Both seem to do well ; the vines hang full of grapes. 



The plowing in the plains is done with the limb of a tree shod 

 with iron, and drawn by a yoke of oxen. It is wonderful how 

 with this ancient Roman plow they can strike such beautiful fur- 

 rows. They are now summer-fallowing for putting in wheat, and 

 they do it beautifully. But it is very difi&cult, and but little can 

 be plowed in the day. 



The wheat, which they thresh with flails, is all the bearded red 

 kind, known in California as the "Mediterranean wheat." It is 

 a sure crop, and never mildews or rots. Much Indian corn is 

 raised here; it is the deep-yellow corn, almost red. Millet for 

 consumption is also raised in large quantities. Now and then a 

 small patch of sugar-cane can be seen, but I suppose that is more 

 for fancy than profit. Will my readers believe that these people 

 are so far back in improvements that they have no fanning-mill, 

 but, as in olden times, clean their grain by throwing it against the 

 wind, and then sweeping it together, so that the husks not taken 

 off by the wind are swept off by the broom ? 



I also observed that they plant poplar-trees in the meadow 

 around the small lots, so that the falling leaves shall manure the 

 ground. I likewise noticed that burned earth was brought from 

 some other part of the property, and laid upon the ground for 

 amelioration. It is said to increase the crop by one half 



, The town of Asti, from which the wine of that name comes, is 

 situated in a rolling country, the hills being small, none being 

 higher than Telegraph Hill of San Francisco. The soil is yellow 

 clay, with no gravel. It is about one third sand. The wine here 

 raised is by no means considered generous, but it is cheap and 

 pleasant, as it has not the bitter taste of the French or Hungarian 

 wines. It is light, and excellent to drink in a hot climate. I 

 emptied a bottle with good will, and almost at one draught. The 

 wine had no intoxicating effect upon me. It is principally red 



