16 OCTOBER 1880, Page 23

Indian Industries. By A. G. F. Eliot James. (W. H.

Allen and lo.)—Mr. James has collected, in the form of a dictionary, a num- ber of articles on the natural products and on the manufactures of India, such items as "Cotton," "Coffee," "Opium," "Tea," occu- pying, of course, prominent positions. Among the things which are at present of minor importance, but which may take a very different place, is " Wheat." At present, indeed, Indian wheat is not very good, fetching less than the best Polish or Australian article by eight or ten shillings a quarter. It soon will rival the best growths. But if freights can be brought down to a lower rate, it might become at onoe for some markets a formidable rival to the inferior British

growths.