62 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Orotava, in Teneriffe, it is 60°-3 Falir. The mean temperature 
on the Riviera at Mentone for the same months is 50° Fahr. 
The cHmate is therefore warm and mild, the air is usually dry, 
and there is abundant sunshine. The rainfall varies from 9 to 18 
inches per annum. Of late years the Canary Islands have 
become more widely known, and they are fast becoming places 
of winter resort for invalids. They are within five days of 
Plymouth, six of London, seven of Liverpool, five of Genoa, four 
of Barcelona, and two of Cadiz. In addition, they are ports of 
call for passenger steamships bound for Montevideo, Valparaiso, 
the Cape, Australia, and New Zealand, while there is intercourse 
with the West Indies by way of Porto Rico and Cuba. 
The islands anciently bore the name of the Fortunate Islands. 
They were known to Pliny. Juba, King of Mauritania, despatched 
ships to visit them, and reported to Augustus Cassar that they 
were clothed with fire. He sent to Rome a present of two huge 
dogs obtained from the islands — hence probably the name 
Canary. After this they were forgotten. The Portuguese 
rediscovered them in the fourteenth century, and successive 
expeditions were fitted out until 1496, when Spain finally 
conquered them. All the original inhabitants had disappeared 
by the end of the seventeenth century. The islands now form a 
province of Spain, and the language is entirely Spanish. These 
islands have always been more or less noted for their produce. 
The Sugar-cane was cultivated as early as the fifteenth century 
by the aid of negro labour. Later the Vine was brought from 
Madeira, and Canary wine became in great request. The Vine- 
mildew, however, nearly destroyed the vineyards, but they are 
now being again revived. In 182G the cochineal culture was 
introduced. This became for many years a most prosperous 
industry, but the discovery of analine dyes has latterly driven 
cochineal out of the market. More recently Las Palmas and 
Santa Cruz have become important coaling stations, and the 
cultivation of Bananas, Tomatos, Potatos, and Oranges for the 
]^:inglish market has almost taken the place of the cochineal, 
and given new life to the islands.* 
* A very practical and comprehensive guide to tlic Canary Islands 
(with nine maps), by Samler Brown, is published by Sampson Low, 
Jjondon, 181)1. The descriptive parts are carefully compiled and thoroughly 
reliable. 
