The Garden in Spring 



the outcome. A cloud of urchins hovers round 

 the sledges, eager to pilfer a cane as occasion 

 may serve. In this land of abundant cane and 

 dear sugar, youth seldom tastes any other 

 sweetmeat. 



The vines have all been pruned during 

 February, and are now putting forth their 

 leaves. I have spoken of the wine industry 

 as a declining one, but wine is still in point 

 of value the only important export from the 

 island. The culture of vines is of little interest 

 tp us, as we do not see the vintage ; and one 

 has not even the satisfaction of feeling that it 

 pays, as for some years past the price paid by 

 the merchants for the must, or grape juice, has 

 been steadily declining. Indeed, there have been 

 years when it was difficult to sell it at all. The 

 attack of temperance from which the Western 

 world appears to be suffering is producing much 

 distress among those concerned one way or 

 another in the supply of intoxicating drinks. 

 It will soon be a question of almshouses for 

 decayed brewers and wine-merchants. The 

 happy days when brewer after brewer deigned 

 to enter the House of Lords, and was provided 

 by obliging genealogists with a descent from 



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