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native schools throughout the territory, and at the present time 
there are certainly signs of an awakening to an aspect of forestry 
which is entirely new to them. They are beginning to appreciate 
the advantages which accrue to the whole neighbourhood from the 
systematic planting of the bare hills. The plantations established 
by the Chinese are more extended, and better tended than they 
are few places in the world where good coniferous timber will grow 
more easily or more quickly than in certain parts of South China, 
and it might very easily not only supply its own needs of timber 
and fuel, but even replace its timber import trade by a flourishing 
output of valuable soft and hard woods into the neighbouring 
commercial centres of the Southern Pacific. 
5: FD. 
The Broad Stone of Empire.*—In this important and interesting 
work, Sir Charles Bruce deals with the problems of Crown Colony 
administration, and gives an exhaustive survey of our policy, 
National, Colonial and Imperial, and of all the factors concerned 
with the development of the dominions of the British Empire. To 
review so comprehensive a book is beside our functions, though 
from the close association of Kew with the Colonies the numerous 
botanical and agricultural problems referred to in the earlier pages 
deserve more than passing notice. 
Chapters xviii, and xix., dealing respectively with Agriculture 
and Forestry, concern Kew more nearly, since, as Sir Charles points 
out, “ The gardens have, in fact, for 150 years been the botanica 
headquarters of the Empire.” 
The development of the organised agricultural system in the West 
Indies is described in detail and, as with most of the problems dealt 
with in the book, the author has been able to bring his great personal 
experience to illustrate his review of the course of events. The 
wisdom of the establishment of Botanic Stations and Gardens, of 
Agricultural organisation and of definite systems of forest preser~- 
vation is ably demonstrated. In the records placed before us there 
are on all sides sad stories of neglect, indifference and reckless 
waste, but there is also the history of the gradual ascendancy of 
wiser councils and of the adoption of more definite lines of policy, 
some of which, and by no means the least important, as the printed 
records show, have emanated from Kew. 
The book should be carefully studied by all who are interested in 
the rise and progress of our colonial administration. 
* The Broad Stone of Empire. Problems of Crown Colony Administration 
with records of personal experience, by Sir Charles Bruce, G.C.M.G., with Maps 
2vols. Macmillan & Co., Lid., London, 1910. 
