[63] Nitre, or "nitrate," is a native nitrate of potash, or nitrate of soda. The latter, commonly called cubic nitre or Chile saltpetre, is the kind occurring in Chile. Inasmuch as it is very soluble, a plentiful rainfall would soon leach it from the ground and carry it to the sea. The nitrate is thought to be of vegetable origin.
[64] The pod of a shrub (Cæsalpina coriaria); it contains a considerable proportion of tannin and is used for tanning leather.
[65] The pericarp or pod contains about twenty-four prismatic-shaped nuts.
[66] The cattle for Cuba and Brazil must be shipped in open pens in crossing the tropics. With the exports for Europe the case is different. If it is summer at the one port it is winter at the other, but it is always summer in the tropics, and cattle-ships fit for one zone are not fit for the other—hence the great difficulties in shipment of live animals to Europe.
[67] For this reason Great Britain is practically a free-trade country. A protective tariff on imported food-stuffs and materials to be manufactured would hurt rather than protect British industries.
[68] This is equivalent to the imposition of a tax on all the sugar consumed at home.
[69] Most of the lithographic stone is obtained at Solnhofen.
[70] This is a little greater than the average ton-mile rate on the New York Central Railroad between New York and Chicago.
[71] The name Zuider, or Zuyder, means "south"; it was so named to distinguish it from the North Sea.
[72] Some years ago many of the most valuable vineyards were destroyed by an insect pest known as the phylloxera, introduced from California. The trouble was overcome by replanting with American vines, the roots of which were immune to the pest. On these roots were grafted the choice French vines, the leaves and twigs of which were immune. In this manner the vineyards were restored with vines that are proof against attack, and the wine output has reached its normal amount.