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JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



industry has played an important part in the history of the West Indies, 

 and the evil times which befell the sugar-planters on the abolition of 

 the slave trade in 1807 and the crisis which followed the abolition of 

 slavery in 1834 are matters of history familiar to most readers, but 

 which w^ould pay perusal again as set forth in the pages of this book. 

 It is gratifying to learn that the West Indian sugar industry has now 

 entered upon a new lease of life and that the prosperity of Canada has 

 done much to bring about the revival of the industry. Almost like a 

 fairy-tale is the account of the West Indian banana industry, which 

 began about 1865, in which 5^ear 1,758 bunches of bananas were 

 exported, and reached to 16,712,220 bunches last year. The culti- 

 vation of limes and other citrus fruits, cotton (the famous " Sea 

 Island " variety had its original habitat in Barbados), rice, coco- 

 nuts, nutmegs, and cacao are other industries described. Turning 

 -to the mineral industries, the exploitation of the famous pitch- 

 lake of. Trinidad is one of the romances of modern indus- 

 trial development, and petroleum, which is now being exploited in 

 Trinidad, promises soon to furnish another example. Succeeding 

 chapters deal with many subjects of political or topical interest. Not 

 the least important of these is the chaj)ter concerned with discussing 

 the West Indies and the Panama Canal. In the author's opinion, the 

 West Indies should be able to derive a great advantage from this gigantic 

 undertaking. It will be seen from the foregoing sketch of the principail 

 contents, of this volume that the subject is one that must appeal to all 

 Englishmen, and a perusal of the 435 pages of matter should result in 

 the reader being well informed as to the past history, present condition, 

 and future prospects of those portions of the British Empire included 

 in what are termed " the British West Indies. " 



" How to Make an Orchard in British Columbia; a Handbook for 

 Beginners." By J. T. Bealby. 8vo., 86 pp. (Black, London, 1912.) 

 Is. 6d. net. 



Now that so many are turning their attention to Canada, and 

 especially to British Columbia, this book will be particularly welcome 

 to the intending emigrant. It is written in clear, plain language, and 

 tells how to select suitable land, how to clear and plant, what varieties 

 to select, and how to cultivate the orchard. Information is given as 

 to the prices of land, cost of outfit, markets, Government assistance, 

 climate, and other matters the settler will be anxious to know. There 

 are many points worthy of study by the fruit-grower in the book, for 

 our' home growers as well as those about to settle in British Columbia. 

 Great stress is laid on the selection of suitable land, and without this 

 failure is almost assured. Hence the importance of seeing for oneself 

 the ground before purchasing. Another matter of great importance 

 is the ^selection o'f a site where there is a free circulation of air, for 

 in a mountainous country like British Columbia " wind still " locali- 

 ties are more frequent than in Britain. There they are termed. 

 '' frost pockets," and are most carefully avoided by the experienced 



