( 16 ) 
whole of these Dutchies.” Their population ts ‘stated 
at 1,114,000, and the territory at little more than 
two millions of arpens, acres. ] Wheat, rye, Indian 
corn, flax and hemp, the vine and the olive, the caper 
and the cotton tree, with all kinds of garden fruits 
and vegetables, are cultivated here: the soil knows 
no repose, and much of it. yields annually and uni- 
formly two crops of grain or three of. grass.”(1) 
These are the miracles of irrigation; not a drop of 
water is lost. Besides the permanent supplies fur- 
nished from lakes, ponds, rivers, creeks and springs, 
even the winter torrent and summer shower, are 
every where intercepted by drains and led to reser- 
voirs; whence they are distributed at will to the 
neighboring grounds. 
In 1779, an agricultural school was established at 
Milan, consisting of 220 boys, who were instructed 
in theoretical and practical husbandry. ‘This insti- 
tution has escaped the notice of travellers ; and we 
are unable to say whether it has, or has not fulfilled 
the intentions of its projectors, 
IV. Switzerland has 1444 square leagues of sur- 
face, and presents an assemblage of mountains, one 
rising above another, until the summits are lost in 
masses of snow and ice, which never melt. This 
short description sufficiently indicates the character 
of both the soil and the climate ; yet unpropitious as 
these are, we find a population of 1242 inhabitants 
to each square league! ‘ This is perhaps the coun- 
try of the world which presents the most happy ef- 
— 
(1) Geographic Mathematique, &¢, Article Italie, 
