Vol. XII. No. 28-5. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS- 



IGl 



THE WORLDS CANE SUGAR INDUSTRY. By 

 H. C. Prinsen Geerligs. Xorman Rodijor, Manchester, 1912. 



Like other works of Mr. Prinsen Geerligs's, The World's 

 Cane Sugar Industry is interesting, well written, and 

 reiialile. It is essentially one of those books which 

 vill tind its chief use for purposes of reference, but the 

 subject matter is so attractively arranged and illustrated that 

 it is a book which will entice perusal during leisure times 

 merely for the interesting descriptions of geographical 

 conditions in the various parl;s of the world where the sugar- 

 cane flourishes. 



The work is essentially geographical. It contains 

 excellent maps of the different sugar countries of which 

 it treats; the statistics show the nunilier of factories, 

 the production of sugar, its composition, and the conditions of 

 climate; whilst tlie text describes the extraordinary differences 

 in the methods of cultivation and manufacture in the various 

 countries and gives interesting historical and economic 

 sketches of industriiil development and decline 



To exemplify some of the interesting matters of which 

 the book treats we may refer the reader to the account of the 

 sugar industry in the Argentine where cultivation of the cane 

 is as neglected as the factories are advanced. (Joing from 

 the Argentine to Queensland, we are given a historical 

 account of the Kanakas and White Labour question, and 

 farther afield, in .Java, the description of the sugar industry 

 there includes the instructive story of the campaign .igainst 

 Sereh disease and the final selection of seedling canes which 

 were found to be resistant to its ravages. 



A considerable section of the bo^k is devoted to the 

 West Indies. Reference is made to the ameliorated con- 

 ditions of the islands resulting from the activities of the 

 Imperial Department of Agriculture, from the Brussels Con- 

 vention and from the establishment of central factories; and 

 in forecasting the future of the sugar industry in these 

 Colonies, Mr. Cieerligs says; 'The condition of the sugar 

 industry in the West Indian Islands is far from brilliant, yet 

 the feeling of despondency belongs to the past, and the 

 efforts of the I'.ritish ( Government to make the West Indian 

 population contented British subjects at any cost have had 

 satisfactory results." 



An important feature of the work is the two diagrams 

 showing the world's production of raw sugar during 1900 

 and 1910. This amounted to 5,171,000 tons for 1900 and 

 &,.5i;.3,000 tons for 1910. For the Les.^er Antilles the produc- 

 tion during 1900 was 2-11,000 tons; this increased to 282,000 

 tons in 1910. The most remarkable development has been that 

 of Cuba, whose sugar output increased from 283,000 tons in 

 1,900 to 1,804,000 tons in 1910. 



In conclusion reference must be made to the indexes of 

 general information and of geographical names, to the apiien- 

 dices, and, last but not least, to the attractiveness of the 

 work as a well printed publication. 



A HANDBOOK OE GENERAL INF0R3fATI0N' 

 ON THE VIRGIN ISLANDS. By W. C. Fishlock. Price 

 3t/. net. 



The intending settler or visitor to the Virgin Islands- 

 must take steamer St. Thomas, and proceed thence by- 

 sailing craft, for a distance of some 2.5 miles. This, however,. 

 will not defer the visits of those who may be attracted by 

 the interesting information which Mr. Fishlock has collected 

 in the publication under review. 



Although important from an agricultural aspect, the 

 chief value of the handbook may be said to be geographical, 

 and it is likely to be found of some use not only in the West 

 Indies and in Great Britain but also in other parts of the 

 world. The subject-matter is clearly arranged in chapters- 

 which makes reference easy The handbook is illustrated by 

 photographs showing the natural features of the islands^, 

 including pictures of the experiment station, the sugar work* 

 and cotton factory, and a good map of the colony also finds its. 

 place at the beginning of the publication. 



The Virgin Islands are interesting geographically, in that, 

 they are the most northern of the British Antilles. Lying: 

 about 60 miles to the east of Porto Rico and 2-5 milfs from. 

 St. Thomas, the islands natuially enjoy a tropical climate and,, 

 like most of the neighbouring lands, are volcanic in origin. 

 Some writers have described the Virgin Islands as being: 

 particularly liable to hurricanes, but Mr. Fishlock shows that 

 this statement is not borne out by facts. An important point 

 is brought out in this chapter on climate, namely, that 

 although a tropical climate may have an enervating effect, 

 the cheerful effect of sunshine and the physiological advan- 

 tages of fresh air may be considered largely to counteract: 

 this influence. 



In the .chapter dealing with the history of the colony it 

 is shown that good economic progress has been made during- 

 recent years, for in 1911 the exports rose to £18,002. This^ 

 however, is a pitiful amount compared with the figures given, 

 by Bryan Edwards for 1787, when the value of the exports 

 came to £161,128, which however must have included goods- 

 in transit and not merely the produce of the colony. 



The Virgin Islands are essentially a colony of peasant 

 proprietors. Since the organized efforts of the Imperial 

 Department of Agriculture were instituted, the cottom 

 industry has progressed favourably, and there are indications- 

 that lime planting may be established in the near future. 



A number of interesting facts are given in this hand- 

 book concerning vital statistics, the manners, customs and 

 religions of the people, and information is presented in regard- 

 to sports and amusements which include yachting, fishing 

 and shooting. The naturalist is also well provided with, 

 material. The Hora, fauna and geology of the islands all 

 appear to have been neglected and would seem to furnish 

 a good field for study. 



Mr. Fishlock is to be congratulated on having presenteJ. 

 an interesting account of a colony, which by reason of its 

 geographical position has not been able to receive the pub- 

 licity which it deserves. 



It is stated in The Board of Trade Journal for January 

 30, 191 3 that an advisory committee for the Imperial Insti- 

 tute under the Imperial Institute (Transfer) Act, 1902, haa 

 been appointed The Committee is as follows. Sir O 

 Philipps, R C M.C! , appointed hy the Secretary of State for 

 the Colonies, in place of the Right Honourable Sir Franci* 

 J. S. K Hopwood, G.C.M.G , K.C.B., resigned; and the Hon. 

 Thomas Mackenzie, High Commissioner for New Zealand, by 

 the New Zealand Government, in place of the Hon. Sir William. 

 Hall- Jones, K.C.MG., late High Commissioner, resignedj 



