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Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 42, 17 August 1929, Page 7

The cost of the work is calculated 'at 15,000,000 lire. This is being generously borne by several engineering firms in Milan, whoso work comes to an end with the excavation of the first ship. It appears that the Government has decided to carry on the work of drainage until the second galley has como to light, an operation which will be equally expensive, and possibly as unfruitful as tho present undertaking. A more serious consideration is tho effect of the drainage on the surrounding country. • - ,

The chief source of income to the peasants of Nemi and Genzano is the annual crop of violets and strawberries. This year, since the moisture from tho waters of Nemi has gradually disappeared, the strawberry crop has been so considerably reduced as to send the fruit merchants of Bomo to other markets for their strawberries. If the lake is to be still further drained tho crops will in time die out, and the small strawberries, famed for their sweetness and dark r^d colour, will become another of Nemi's many traditions.

The water that is now being carried away cannot be brought back into tho lake. At least ton years will elapse before the small spring iv the coutre of the basin will have brought tho waters back to their former level. If it should be decided to lay bare the second galley, many tnore years -will pass before Nemi is restored to her ancient beauty and once again become tho pleasure haunt that it has always been, for the citizens of Rome.