The Baraboo news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1884-1911, 1907-01-30

la tree, out of which most of the chew
Ing sum so extensively and vulgarly
used in the United States, is made, af-
lords large export. An American
company has government concession
here to extract rosin from the pine for
ests for which privilege they have paid
S125, 200.
Operations will be commenced this
year for the building of railroad
through the most fertile part of the
colony to open up agriculture. The
same company is at present looking
over very large tract of land with the
intention of converting it into banana
plantations, and will invite immigra-
tion from Canada and the United
States. A farm of 5000 acres has been
purchased by Canadian company for
fruit farms and they have erected
number of canneries for the canning
of tropical fruits there. A Louisville,
Kentucky company, just over the bor-
der line of Honduras in Yucatan has
established mahogany camp at
cost of $1,000 day. All mahogany is
foated to camp from Honduras.
The Europeans for the most part are
said to be birds of passage tho there
are many established here. The bulk
of the inhabitants known as Belize
reoles) are negroes, no doubt from the
West Indian islands. They are of ex-
cellent physique and capable of great
eXertion in the worst of mahogany and
log wood cutting. After the Creole
element, possibly the Spaniard comes
next. There is also a large mixture
of Spanish and Indian with the usual
result-that the work characteristics
OF both races are emphasized in their
descendants. The other elements are
Caribbean and pure Indian. The for
mer is fine quiet type of Indian, skill
full as sailor but not good cultiva-
tor. The Indian, pure and simple,
seldom troubles the white man here.
The houses here are mostly surround
ed by patches of garden with some
fruit and shade trees. Owing to the
sandy nature of the soil, which is inn
pregnated with salt, and the proximity
of water to the surface, gardening in
Belize is pursued under very disadvan-
tageous circumstances.
The oleander thrives luXuriantly
everywhere. The mignonette tree or
henna plant gives the air delicious
fragrance at night, while the fiamboy-
ante with its masses of scarlet flowers,
the allamanda, the temple flower and
many others brighten what would be
waste of sand and bahama grass.
The chief feature, however, in the land
scape is the cocoanut palm, which,
with its wide spreading leaves rattling
in the breeze, grows luXuriantly and is
seen everywhere. The harbor of Belize
is approached by somewhat intricate
passage winding amongst the coral
reefs but it is we'll sheltered and has a
secure anchorage. AS in most West
Indian colonies, the bread fruit is
thoroughly established in British
Honduras. 1t affords valuable food.
There are many other fruits and plants
which / could mention but time and
inclination (after seeing the old year
out and the new year in) forbid. 1t
suffices to say at present, that there is
nothing which SO impresses the trave-
Ter as the abundance and profusion of
palms which are everywhere. 1t would
be impossible to decribe satisfactorily
the rich profusion of plant life as seen
in the Central American forests. Each
tree with its huge branches covered
with orchids and it's trunk Fashioned
with climbing air plants and tresses of
ferns and club MOSES, is botanical
garden in itself.
Leaving you in this fowery atmos-
phere, and with greetings for the New
Year, am very truly,
S. +. Page.