ITALY. 341 



to a region of more succulent forage, resume their growth, and give a 

 large profit to the purchaser. In consequence the district, although 

 possessing an inferior race, is always sure of a ready sale for it." 



Under the title "forage" occurs the following: u Some few farmers 

 have commenced the cultivation of lucern (medica). The peasants find 

 great difficulty in drying this grass so as to prevent the pulverization 

 of the leaves, a difficulty they cannot surmount for want of an acquaint- 

 ance with the proper method of proceeding in the case." These short 

 quotations comment each other j at present lucern and clover are cul- 

 tivated wherever cultivation of any kind is possible, though the product 

 is still far from large. In elevated regions they are replaced by natural 

 forage so wholesome, nourishing, and aromatic as to render the exten- 

 sion of artificial meadows almost useless. 



The plants which occur most frequently in these mountain pastures 

 are, Phleum alpinum, Alopecurus gerardi, Agrostis canina, Sislesia cm- 

 rulea, Poa CLlpina, Festuca duriuscula, Kceleria grandiflora, Trisetum Jla- 

 vescens, Aira flexuosa, Agrostis vulgaris, Nardus aristata, and in still 

 more elevated positions the Agrostis alpina and rupestris, and the Arena 

 sclieuclizeri. 



The arable surface of the province is 30,000 acres, and that producing 

 forage of all kinds, 175,000 ; of which temporary cultivated meadows 

 take up 8,000 ; permanently cultivated, 42,000 : natural pastures, 

 124,000. 



Fjjially it may be said that the cattle of this province appear to be 

 assuming the consistent and distinctive character of a special race, 

 sought and imported as such into the surrounding region. Whether it 

 will supplant the Tyrolese, so generally resorted to for breeding and 

 slaughter, is doubtful. Whether it possesses merits sufficient to make 

 it desirable for importation into the United States is more doubtful still, 

 in presence of the pure Tyrolese, which seems to preserve in a higher 

 degree its special race qualities. 



DAIRYING IN BELLUNO. 



Another effect of the same progressive impulse has been the intro- 

 duction of a better system of dairy industry. The prevailing accounts 

 from every quarter of this Venetian territory represent this class of 

 production as being everywhere more or less neglected, or, at best, fab- 

 ricated by the most antiquated methods to suit the rough taste of the 

 country consumer, in most cases for family use only, and not of a quality 

 to find a market abroad where there was a surplus to export. The 

 modest export from the province of Udine has already been mentioned, 

 and here, with the moderate product of milk and the scarcity of other 

 resources, something more could be added to the economy of the region. 

 This is now taking a practical form, thanks to the intelligence and 

 energy of a parish priest of the valley of Agordo, who, in imitation of 

 the Swiss "chalets" and of the "fruiteries" of the French Jura, founded 

 the first associated dairy, " Latteria Sociale," in his village in 1872. 

 The idea was simple, and immediately realized a sensible advantage, 

 and it lias since extended as rapidly as could be expected in this iso- 

 lated and difficult region. A community or a neighborhood contribute 

 the modest means at their disposal for installing a boiler, a store-room, 

 and the few necessary implements, the most improved possible, and 

 employ an experienced practician to carry on the industry. They then 

 bring in their surplus milk daily, of which a strict account is kept, 



