ToL. IV. No. 74. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



45 



THE BOOK OF TRINIDAD: Edited by T. B. 

 -Jackson. Trinidad: 2hiir, Marslial d: Co., Portof-Sjxiin. 

 J904. 



This volume consists of a series of articles by various 

 -writers on subjects connected with the 'Pearl of the Antilles.' 

 ■Considerable attention is i)aid to the agricultural side, for 

 not only are two excellent articles — 'The Industrial Resour- 

 ces of Trinidad,' by Professor Carniody, and 'Forest Resources 

 ■of Trinidad ' by ^Ir. C. F. Rogers — rei)roduced from Indus- 

 trial Trinidad, issued by the Board of ilanagement of the 

 Victoria Institute, but there are also included an article on 

 ' A day at the Usine St. Madeleine ' and another on ' The 

 Cacao Industry of Trinidad.' 



The descriptions of the various trips and excursions 

 <ippear to be good and the book is copiously and well 

 illustrated throughout. In fact we consider the editor is to 

 be congratulated not only upon his choice of illustrations 

 but also upon their e.xcellent quality, some of the pictures of 

 plants and crops being distinctly superior to those usually 

 met with in books of this kind. 



SUiY PICTURES OF THE ANTILLES AND 

 BRITISH GUIANA: By Algernon E. Aspinall, B. A, 

 Secretary, West India Committee. London: The West 

 India Committee Rooms, 15, Seething Lane. Price 2s. 6rf. 



This book, which is dedicated by special permission to 

 Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, has been puljlished with the object 

 of popularizing the West Indies, and making them better 

 known to the Mother Country. It contains many reproduc- 

 tions of photographs of West Indian life and scenery, which 

 were taken by Jlr. Aspinall on his visit to these islands in 

 1899-1900, and which have been for some time appearing in 

 the West India Committee Circular. 



A feature of this book is the general information, in 

 a brief and popular form, as to the general aspects of the 

 colonies, the hotels, means of conveyance, sports, social 

 clubs, and principal sights of the various colonies, which 

 should make it an interesting and useful guide for tourists. 



Sun Pictures of the Antilles is bound in stout board 

 covers and is excellently' got up in every way. As readers 

 «f the West India Committee Circular will be aware, 

 Mr. Aspinall's photographs not only make very good pictures 

 but are distinctly typical of West Indian life and scenery. 



this book possesses thorough scientific accuracy and also that 

 it is so written that it can bo used by anyone interested 

 in nature study, with or without a technical scientific training. 

 The points upon which the author lays most stress are, 

 firstly, the encouragement of observation, and secondly, the 

 development of reasoning powers. 



The book, as has been pointed out above, deals with 

 the commonest forms of life. This, of course, refers to 

 conditions in England, and, so far, the work is less well 

 adapted for naturalists in the West Indies. Some of the 

 lessons, however, such as those on ' The Human Hand,' 

 ' Invisible domestic Servants,' ' House-flies,' ' Bananas,' etc., 

 can equally well be used anywhere in these islands. Other 

 chapters can easily be adapted to tropical plants and animals. 



The book is well illustrated by many figures, drawn by 

 Mr. A. R. Hammond, in most cases direct from nature. 



HOUSE, GARDEN, AND FIELD: By Professor 

 L. C. Miall, F.R.S., London: Edwin Arnold, Maddox Street, 

 W., 1004. Price, 6s. 



The sub-title of this book describes it as a collection of 

 short nature studies. It is intended as a guide to the observa- 

 tion of live plants and animals, and deals with the 

 structure and habits of a number of the commonest forms of 

 life. 



The high scientific standing of the author, who is 

 Professor of Biology in the University of Leeds, and the 

 <Xuality of his previous works on nature .s.tudy, ensure that 



ST. VINCENT ARROWROOT. 



In reference to the note in the Agricultural 

 News (Vol. Ill, p. 217), in which mention is made of 

 the suggestion of the Grocers' Monthly to secure 

 a judicious advertising of St. Vincent arrowroot, the 

 following extract from the St. Vincent Sentry is likely 

 to be of interest : — 



Thanks to the enteiprise of Jlessrs. D. K. Porter &■ Co., 

 (the local arrowroot gi-owers whose exhibit at the Agri- 

 cultural Show, held in March 1901 under the auspices of the 

 Imperial Department of Agriculture for the West Indies, 

 winning the first prize, secured for them the Department's 

 Diploma of ilerit) the old custom is now giving place to 

 better and more business-like methods. This firm is now 

 advertising the celebrated 'Three River's Brand' of pure 

 arrowroot in leading papers in Scotland, and widely di.s- 

 tributing advertising matter throughout the country ia 

 general in a laudable attempt to introduce this wholesome 

 West Indian food in the homes of all. 



The progress of pure St. Vincent arrowroot in the 

 British markets has hitherto been somewhat checked by the 

 high prices asked for this article by retailers, and the 

 prevalence of the opinion that it was only used as an 

 invalid's diet. It is hoped that the publication of the 

 recipes of delicious dishes which arrowroot is capable of 

 making will modify this opinion. It is desired to impress 

 upon readers that arrowroot is invaluable as a food and 

 makes excellent blanc-mange, puddings, and many other 

 domestic dishes ; and it only needs a trial to convince the 

 general public of this fact. 



Under the arrangements now happily adopted by 

 ^lessrs. D. K. Porter & Co. in regard to packing and 

 shipping from St. Vincent, ready prepared for the retailer, 

 buyers are now afforded the advantage of obtaining an 

 original packet of arrowroot at a very reasonable price. 



Shipment of Minor Products from Barbados. 



By the R. M. S. 'Trent' which sailed for Southampton 

 on Saturday last, the Imperial Department of Agriculture 

 shipped 719 bunches of bananas, 35 bales cotton, 2 barrels 

 potatos, and 1 barrel of yams, against 623 bunches bananas, 

 21 bales cotton, 7 barrels potatos and 1 barrel of yams, the 

 quantity shipped on the l-tth. instant. Messrs. H. E. Thorne 

 ife Son, Ltd., also shii>ped by the same steamer 132 crates 

 containing 1.50 bunches bananas, and 12 bales cotton, as 

 against 10 bales cotton and 121 crates bananas, the amount 

 of their previous shipment. (Agricultural Reporter, Jan- 

 uary 30.) 



