The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-06-25


rainy season, when the streets practically become
small rivers Gor it is not an unusual thing to
see small boys swimming in the streets the
sort OF payoments we are familiar with would
be entirely inadequate.
a particularly interesting chapter to
Americans is that on the possibilities of
agriculture in Cuba. On this subject Mr.
Porter says:
Nearly all the products Of the northern soil
may be grown in Cuba. Our common is
very generally raised. on the uplands especially,
and two crops of it will grow YEARLY. II is
smaller than the corn OF the north, but is said
10 be nutritious. Ii is fed to the stock
i never been attempted to any extent, and while
the lowlands are impossible for 1t, in the noun
tam regions, according TO theory, it might be
accomplished successfully. However, all the
chances are against Cuba's entering the wheat
market against Minnesota and the Dakotas. Oats
and barley not in the list Of Cuban products.
great deal of rice is raised in the lowlands
along the coast, but the Cubans are great rice
eaters. and none is exported A careful handling
OF the Cuban rice crop would bring it into the
markets of the United States
Although, to insure good quality, seed pota-
toes must be brought TO Cuba each year from
nous, and they come twice year. We do not
get new potatoes from Cuba in the spring, but
there is no reason why should not, if the
farmer Will raise them for export. The Cuban
potato is worth considerably more in Havana
than those imported. The sweet potato grows
everywhere and anywhere, and is not
only OF great quantity, but good quail
ity. To Cuba it is almost what the
white potato is 10 Ireland, The yam, another
and larger form of the sweet potato, is prolific
and prevalent. Ii is not cultivated for expor-
tation. In fact. it scarcely be said to be
cultivated at all in Cuba, SO common is its
/ growth.
/ Beans are an article of import into Cuba, and
the people consume great quantities OF them, yet
every variety of bean grows there rankly, and
that they are not grown, not only to meet
the home demands. but for export as well, is
simply because OF lack of industry in their cul-
tivation. Grasses grow rankly almost
anywhere in the island. In the province of Pi-
mar del Rio variety grows TO the height of
six feet; another is a bunch grass similar to our
species of these two grasses stock is very fond,
but third variety has such sharp edges that
stock cannot eat ii. Little of this grass is used
as hay and the hay crop has not been OF espe-
cial significance in Cuban agricultural products,
but it might well be ii it were given proper
cultivation and care. Sheep OF good
quality among the impossibes in Cuba, for
the climate has the peculiar effect OF straiglten-
ing their wool into harsh hair, like that of the
goat.
There are many other interesting and
valuable statements in this book and it
will be useful as a book of reference
New York: C. P. Putnam's Sons.)
Puerto Rico, Its Conditions and Posi-
bilities." by William Dinwiddie. is a copi-
ously illustrated book on the commercial
and Industrial conditions in that island. 1t
is more gossipy but no less interesting
than Mr.. Porter's book on Cuba. A con-
siderable part of the volume is devoted to
the social and chronological characteristics
of the people. One of the picturesque
chapters deals with human burden bearers
"a necessary element in the life of land
without roads. This is Mr. Dinwiddie's
description of some types in this class:
Spanish life, with its homes its posing, its
Incidence, its mananT, affords rare gems for the
painters brush, and a never-ending field of
picture-possibilities 10 the photographer II IS
superb, but it brings from the lips OF the hust
ling business man Of America-decided and de-
manding-iust plain. ordinary profanity.
The bread-wagon Is the street somewhere;
you hear the vendors high-keyed. plaintive cry,
rising and falling with musical cadence. He
VIII be before your door after awhile, and in
the mean time be patient, If you in
clined to he cross before your coffee, eggs, and
bread in the morning. for your human bread
wagon, with the great board or basket filed with
fifty fine, fresh loaves. balanced deity on his
head, must the settlement Of a misInder
standing between two scratching, biting, half
clad urchins; now he has stopped to banter
merry-eyed dark-skinned girl, whose tattered
gown dirloses that she is 4 Venus in disguise;
and heavens he has stopped again TO get light
for his inevitable cigarette. The bread is all the
better when you get it., for you are hungry
Great Scott I'll wiring your dago neck IL
you don't get around in the morning with our
milk an exasperated officer cried TO the
who drove his dairy farm from door to door but
the man-not understanding-smil his langud
smile, and answered: 'Muchas gracias, senior"
Some OF the equilibrious feats are remarkable.
The angle which the heavy tray may take seems
to make little difference, for the bearers appar
emily never drop them. 1t Is possible to turn
completely around with tray five feet long
which sets il slowly whiriing by momentum
without touching hand to il. and once l saw
a man. with a tray piled mp with cakes and
candies on his head, chase a tantalizing boy
half a block, finally landing his prosecutor in
the gutter By flying kick, without 50 much
shaking his load.
This is fair example of the general
style of the book, which, however. con-
tains much solid information in addition
to such picturesque passages. New York:
Harper & Bros. S2.50)