INTRODUCTION. 



THE tropics include an immense area of land in every con- 

 tinent but Europe. Their agriculture, however, is only of 

 serious importance to the world at large in Southern Asia, 

 Brazil, Mexico, Central America and the West Indies, West 

 Africa, North Australia, and a few groups of islands in the 

 Pacific. The following rough figures, giving in round numbers 

 the value or bulk of the chief exports from some of the principal 

 exporting countries, will give some idea of the enormous trade 

 that now goes on, and which is increasing year by year. 



INDIA, 19056 



Coffee 1,171,000 



Coir 361,000 



Cotton 23,822,000 



Dyes and Tans 787,000 



Jute 19,712,000 



Lac 2,068,000 



Opium 6,314,000 



Pepper 407,000 



Rice ... 12,422,000 



Other grains (wheat, etc.) 7,410,000 



Seeds (oils, etc.) 7,072,000 



Spices 605,000 



Sugar ... 122,000 



Tea ... 5,898,000 



Tobacco . 156,000 



