BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 281 



value in these latitudes is greatly enhanced from the Guinea-grass com- 

 mencing to flourish with the heats of summer which burn up all native 

 grasses. I am now sending a further supply of plants to the Consul- 

 General and Vice-Consul at Tripoli, Colonel Herman and Mr. Reade, 

 who are growing it there successfully, and are in hopes it may succeed 

 even in some parts called "Desert," where its roots can reach moisture. 



I have since its introduction here been informed that the French at- 

 tempted for many years to grow it in the south of France, a climate 

 probably too cold for it, but that it has been long known in Tunis. 

 After it multiplied here, I found there had been a root in the Island, 

 carefully preserved for thirty years as a curiosity, but never propagated. 

 From whence it came is now unknown. 



The most interesting experiments with the Guinea-grass in this part 

 of the world are those making in the low moist lands of the island of 

 Sardinia, and in the deserts of Tripoli. This tropical grass came ori- 

 ginally from the coast of Guinea, and may succeed better as it is carried 

 south from the coast of Barbary. In Greece and in Corfu it will pro- 

 bably be killed by frosts. 



Wm. Reid, Governor. 



Palace, Valetta, June ota, 1857. 



of 



West Coast of Tropical Af> 



A statement to the following effect has recently (July 5th, 1857) 

 appeared in the • Times ' newspaper, being the signature of " M. Fors- 



ter, New City Chambers." 



" Having been intimately and largely connected for half a century 

 with the trade of the West Coast of Africa, I can state, upon my own 

 knowledge, that with the repression of the Slave-Trade, the moral and 

 social condition of the people has continued to improve. So, too, has 

 legitimate trade become a substitute for dealing in slaves. When I was 

 first connected with the African coast, our importation of African pro- 

 duce was next to nothing. For one tun of Palm Oil then imported, I 

 may safely sav we now get 200. At that period few persons ever heard 

 of a trade in African Ground-nuts j but at this time no less a quantity 

 than from 50,000 to 60,000 tons are annually exported to Franco, 



VOL. IX. 



2 o 



