190 REVIEWS OF RECENT BOOKS 



The leading industries are described by either Miss Love or 

 Dr. Jones. First in importance is the silk trade, which is carried on 

 both as piece work and as regular household tasks, besides in the 

 three filatures, which (as we learn from Customs reports produce 

 1,200 piculs of raw silk yearly). There are, owing to the activity of 

 these filatures, now only 1,500 looms in the city, as cocoons cannot 

 now be obtained in sufficient quantities except by the filatures. 

 Formerly there were 9,000 looms. The number of workers has un- 

 fortunately fallen off. In fact the whole silk trade needs new methods 

 and scientific supervision. 



Another leading trade is that in rapeseed, which is grown in the 

 surrounding districts. The oil from the seeds is consumed locally, 

 but large quantities of seed are exported to Japan. The process of 

 oil extraction is described by Dr. Jones, who also mentions the rice 

 trade, which has introduced steam polishers lately — a feature noted 

 in other parts of Kiangsu. The making of firecrackers is an interesting 

 process, and so is that of spectacles, which is given in detail by 

 Miss Love. Akin to this is jade-cutting, for which Soochow is also 

 famous. 



It is impossible to go into details of all the interesting matter in 

 these two pamphlets, but those interested in the daily life of the 

 Chinese will find them well worth perusal. It would be of great value 

 and interest if this work of describing local industries were taken up 

 by literary circles throughout China, for many of these highly localised 

 trades have never been dealt with. The establishment of the Kiangsu 

 Industrial Model Factory at Soochow in 1917, and the school of 

 embroidery under Mrs. Koo, where excellent work is turned out, are 

 hopeful features among much which seems out-of date and hardly 

 destined to survive the stress of modern competition. 



N. S. 



The Educational Directory and Year Book of China. Edward 

 Evans & Sons, Agents. 



The appearance of The Educational Directory is regular and people 

 get to look for it. It must be a tedious bit of work to compile such 

 a list of names, and to get it correct to date. But the work is done 

 and educationists can rejoice once more. This must be a most useful 

 volume to those needing information on schools and colleges. The 

 directory gives the teachers in all schools : native and foreign ; 

 missions ; municipalities and government services. 



The work gives also much general information including the most 

 recent innovations such as the 'Academic Costume in China.' The 



