Sharecropping in southern Tuscany: a micro-analysis of the ‘Fattoria’ production system (1858-1889)

This article studies the effects of the 1880s cereal crisis at the micro level as well as structural changes to Tuscan agriculture. It looks at the sharecropping system of southern Tuscany from 1858 to 1889, by observing production and market trends for the large Canonica property in Certaldo (Tuscany), a municipality between Siena and Florence. The results show that Canonica did not suffer the effects of the cereal crisis; instead, the production of wheat, corn, oil and especially wine increased. Fertilizer use also increased, resulting in improved grain yields. Comparison of aggregate production for the provinces of Siena and Florence and the region of Tuscany showed that Canonica presented a production trend similar to that of the Siena province. An effective response to the exogenous shock was made possible by a proper accounting structure and the development of specific management strategies by the owner and agricultural agents (fattori).