ABSTRACT OF CONTENTS.

PART I.

PERSONAL NARRATIVE.

CHAPTER I.

PIEDMONT-PROVINCES OF TURIN, VERCELLI, NOVARA, AND

THE LUMELLINA.

Mission to Northern Italy by the Honourable the Court of Directors of the

East India Company-instructions-general acknowledgment of assist-

ance received-methods of inquiry-reports on irrigation in Italy by

French officers-works on the subject by MM. Nadault de Buffon and

Mauny de Mornay-route through France-contrasts of climate-Nice-

Genoa-Sir Ralph Abercromby-Turin-facilities granted for examina-

tion of records in the canal department-study of Italian hydraulic liter-

ature-provision for books made by the Government of India-infe-

riority of Piedmontese hydraulic literature-M. Michela, inspecting

engineer of canals-superiority of Piedmontese legislation-M. Giovan-

etti's treatise on the law of irrigation-perfection of theory and imper-

fection of practice in Piedmont-probable cause of the difference-

education of hydraulic engineers-details of the system-institution for

experimental hydraulics-Italian authors on hydraulics-Baron Plana,

astronomer-royal-province of Vercelli-M. Charles Noé, inspecting

engineer of the canals of the Vercellese-canals of Cigliano and del

Rotto- the river Dora-Baltea-favourable physical characteristics of this

stream-regulators with small sluices-advantages of this arrangement

-contrast with regulators employed in British India-clearance of silt

deposits by action of escape close to the regulators-small establish-

ments at the regulators-manufacture of prisme-imperfection of levels

-canal of Ivrea-dam across the Dora-Baltea-masonry falls-perpen-

dicular and ogee-formed drops-farm of Leri-Signor Corio, the tenant

-interior economy of the farm-rice-cleaning machines or piste-mar-

cite or winter-meadows-some details of these-rice-grounds-details-

sanitary relations of rice cultivation-imperfection of information on

this subject illustrated-departure from Leri-execrable roads-mea-

surement of water in the Vercellese-imperfection of the arrangements

for this purpose-supply for rice-payment in kind-government mills

at Salasco-dissatisfaction with this species of payment-causes of this

feeling-Novara-General Solaroli-canal Mora-untidy state of the

works-canals Busca, Langosco, and Sforzesca-fontanili or springs--

higher temperature of spring-water in winter-advantage for winter-

meadows,

Page

3-33

CHAPTER II.

THE LOMBARDO-VENETIAN KINGDOM-PROVINCES OF MILAN, LODI,

CREMONA, MANTUA, VERONA, BRESCIA, COMO, AND PAVIA.

Lombardy-Naviglio Grande at Buffulora-approach to Milan-want of

introductions to the Government-courtesy of Prince Carlo Swartzen-

berg-annoyance from the police-canals around Milan-canal of Pavia

-the Vettabia-the Naviglio Interno-irrigation with sewerage waters

-Modulo Magistrale-discrepancies between theory and practice in

measurement of water-locks of the Naviglio Interno-Leonardo da

Vinci-his work on the Measure and Motion of water-practice of the

Government regarding the water from the main canals-beneficial results

of sale in perpetuity-extent of minor canals-Cavo Lerino-Marocco-

details-imperfections of the measurement system employed-fontanili

or springs-M. Mazzeri-account of a great spring near Milan-tenant-

farmers of Lombardy-their general intelligence-extent of hydraulic

literature of Milan-New Collection of Italian authors on hydraulics-

Bruschetti's histories of irrigation and navigation canals in the Milanese

-Colombani's treatise on hydraulics-the Censimento or Revenue Sur-

vey of Lombardy-works connected with this-relations between land-

lords and tenants in Lombardy-varieties of leases and rents-Consegna

-Reconsegna-Bilancio-Affitto a Mezzadria-Affitto a Grano-duties

of Lombard engineers-works on agricultural engineering-legislation

of irrigation in Lombardy--Romagnosi's treatise on the subject-sani-

tary legislation-Berra's work on marcite or winter-meadows-departure

from Milan-Cremona-canal Muzza-drainage-works in Cremona and

Mantua-embankments of the Po-Signor Elia Lombardini-Verona-

Peschiera-Lago di Garda-Brescia-canals of the Oglio, Chiese or Clisio,

and Mella-Brescian marcite system-Signor Grassini-growth of rights

to water-Count Antonio Lecchi and Signor Fillippo Ugoni-Treviglio

and Cassano-head-works of the Muzza canal-Trezzo-head-works of

the canal Martesana-lake system of Lombardy-Como-Varese-Lago

Maggiore-return to Milan-Cavo Taverna-canal of Pavia-return to

Turin-departure for Tuscany-mishap to books and maps-general

impression of works of irrigation in Northern Italy, as compared with

those of British India,

Page

34-70

CHAPTER III.

THE MAREMMA OF TUSCANY.

The Tuscan Maremma and its improvement-facilities afforded by the

Tuscan Government-Val di Chiana-marsh of Castiglione-road to

Grosseto outlines of the Maremma-causes of its present condition-

abortive efforts for its improvement-theories of the marshes of the

Maremma-drainage projects of Ximenes-their failure, and its cause-

project of Pio Fantoni in 1788-Count Fossombroni's views-process

of colmazione or "warping"-application to the marsh of Castiglione-

sanitary influence of the present works-Signor Grandoni and the

engineers of the Maremma-termination of my work, and return to

England,

71-80

PART II.

HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE DETAILS OF THE CANALS OF

IRRIGATION IN NORTHERN ITALY.

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

Comparison of the plains of Northern India and Northern Italy as fields of

irrigation-reasons for describing separately the canals of Piedmont and

Lombardy-irrigation in classic times,

Page

83-87

CHAPTER I.

CANALS OF IRRIGATION IN PIEDMONT.

SECTION I.-HYDROGRAPHY, SOIL, CLIMATE, AND POPULATION OF THE

IRRIGATED PLAIN OF PIEDMONT,

SECTION II.-General HISTORICAL SUMMARY OF THE ORIGIN AND PRO-

GRESS OF IRRIGATION IN PIEDMONT.

Methods of grouping the facts of the subject in chronological or topo-

graphical order-reasons for preferring the latter-canals of the four-

teenth century-of the fifteenth century-of the sixteenth century-

of the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries-period of

greatest activity in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries- great

arterial lines-branch lines-progress of improvement from East to

West,

SECTION III.-CANALS OF THE RIVERS DORA-REPAIRA, Stura, and ORCO.

Canal of the Veneria Reale-of the Royal Park-of Fiano-of the Veneria

Reale from the Stura-subterranean channel-canal of Caluso-histo-

rical sketch of its origin and progress-litigation-appropriation of the

line by the Government-improvement of the works and administration

measurement system of Contini - Oncia di Caluso - Michelotti's

modifications-lease of the canal to the "Societa Pastorale"-description

of the works and original cost, annual expenditure for maintenance and

establishment-annual returns-area of irrigation-price of water-

tabular statements,

88-98

99-102

103-119

SECTION IV.-CANALS OF THE DORA-BALTEA.

Sketch of the administrative system of the Royal Canals of Piedmont.
1. Canal of Ivrea-historical sketch-descriptive details-volume of
water-area of irrigation-price of water-payment in kind for rice cul-
tivation-minor branches-number of works of various kinds-districts
irrigated-annual expenditure-income-indirect returns. 2. Canal of
Cigliano-history-descriptive details-branch of Saluggia-works-
discharge-area of irrigation-income, direct and indirect-expenditure