The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 59, July 1955 - April, 1956 Page: 405

Book Reviews

405

Problems of breeding better beef for Africa and for Brazil are
considered in several papers. These problems make interesting
comparisons with some stages in the historical development of
beef production methods in the United States. To illustrate some
of the initial problems of the Texas pioneer, we quote from the
history of Captain Richard King, who founded the ranch of
that name:
He worked out many problems, including the problem of protection,
of keeping himself and his family and his people alive in a place
where the lawless had never permitted others to stay. He not only
stayed, but he encouraged and helped others to. come and settle. And
his original establishment was the beginning of permanent civiliza-
tion in this area. At least for that once, civilization came and remained
because of a ranch.
The change through the years to the present great and expand-
ing productivity of the United States can be illustrated from a
statement by Mr. Robert J. Kleberg, Jr.:
This is not a conference to discuss any particular breed of cattle.
It is a conference to discuss every breed of cattle and the possible
ways in which they may be used to contribute to the increase of world
meat production. To that end I will tell you something we have found
out about our cattle and why our cattle form the basis for much of
our hope for our particular contribution to an increase of the food
supply.
The success of these endeavours to, produce better food shows
what mankind is able to do when left physically and mentally
free to try.
WILSON S. STONE
The University of Texas
Spanish-Speaking Groups in the United States. By John H. Burma.
Durham (Duke University Press), 1954. Pp. 187. Maps and
appendix. $4.00.
Professor John H. Burma, department of sociology, Grinnell
College, undertakes in this book to bring together between covers
"the salient facts and problems of all the major Spanish-speaking
groups in the United States." His synthesis is designed as an
alternate to those treatments of segments or fractions of the sub-