204 
Italian Irrigation. 
But further, the 560th Article of the Sardinian Code enacts 
that the proprietor of water is not at liberty so to dispose of it as 
to cause it to be lost to the injury of lands at lower level. A 
curious anecdote in illustration of this point vras related by the 
late Count Cavour : — 
" In 1832, the Marquis of St. G , farmer of the canals of the 
Vercellese, having- quarrelled v/ith his neighbour the Marquis 
of Pal — , persisted during eight consecutive years on throwing 
into the river Po two ruote (alDout 24 cubic feet per second) of 
water, for which the Marquis Pal — offered to pav him 5007. 
a-year. To satisfy a personal antipathy, ]M. de St. G sacri- 
ficed 4000Z., causing at the same time a loss to the agriculture of 
his country of triple this amount at the least." 
The new code put an end to this deplorable state of affairs. It 
required, however, a decision of the Senate of Turin based on 
Article 560 of the Code to compel the ]\Iarquis of St. G to 
have his revenue increased by 500/. a-year. A like attempt of 
the same Marquis to coerce a neighbouring Commune is also 
recorded. 
Conclusion. 
We have now passed in review a few of the leading features of 
Italian irrigation, omitting many interesting particulars, such as 
the history of the growth of rice, its peculiarities and influence 
on health ; the regulations adopted for distributing a supply o/ 
water for a certain number of hours among different proprietors 
in rotation ; the long-established system of local administration 
bv boards of proprietors interested in canals ; the Censimento, or 
revenue survey ; and the general influence of irrigation on popu- 
lation and climate ; whilst ample stores of information, derived 
from a comparison of the state and prospects of India with those 
of Italy, have been entirely passed over. 
If we attempt to compare the position of Italy with that of 
England, and look first to her natural ad\antagcs, wc may 
remark that, although these are undoubtedly great and in some 
degree peculiar, still England has received no mean provision, 
and for its use, such as it is, wc are responsible. 
The social advantages by which Italy has profited are more 
critical, and therefore less easy to criticise. 
The chief point seems to have been that the right to use or 
grant the use of water was there A'ested in some one authority, 
and was not a common right, to be used at each man's discretion 
Avithin the bounds of discretion, and guarded by the mutual . 
jealousy of all. As what is every man's business is nobody's 
business, so it sometimes happens that v.hat all may enjoy in 
common, no one practically can turn to the best account. 
With common lands wc have recognised this as a truth, and 
