Hemp and corn, oil and wool, wine, silk, and cattle, form its substantial wealth.
How do we find the Government acting in this respect?
Its duties are very simple, and may be summed up in three words,--protection, assistance, and encouragement.
The budget is not heavily burdened under the head of encouragement.
Some proprietors and land stewards, residing in Rome, ask permission to found an Agricultural Society.

The authorities refuse.

In order to attain their object, they steal furtively into a Horticultural Society, already established by authority.

They organize themselves, raise subscriptions, exhibit to the Romans a good collection of cattle and distribute some gold and silver medals offered by Prince Cesarini.
Is it not curious that an exhibition of cattle, in order to be tolerated, is obliged to smuggle itself in under the shelter of camellias and geraniums?
Lay sovereigns not only openly favour agriculture, but they encourage it at a heavy cost, and do not consider their money thrown away.

They are well aware that to give a couple of hundred pounds to the inventor of a good plough, is to place a small capital out at a heavy interest.
The investment will render their kingdom more prosperous, and their children more wealthy.