524 A. E. Verrill — The Bermuda Islands. 



for now they will not give a groat a Imshell for them, and I believe 

 their mills will stand still if they continue so, yet Mr. Jenour hath 

 bought 1500 bushells for Mr. Gowes cheap enough for such ones, and 

 [he] is my best chapman, who offers me 2s 6d a bushell for cleare 

 seed and 8d a bushell for seed excellently cleared to the white husk ; 

 but I heard yesterday Mr. Painter sayth such seed will be worth L2d 

 per bushell by his experiment, who made 22 gallons of oyle in one 

 day, and I think will be able to send home a pipe or a butt or 2 hogs- 

 heads to get the tother £40 of the Compa. w'ch he makes account to 

 have, but he is behoulden to your querne to cleane his seeds, for 

 William will not meddle with that busynesse." 



It does not appear from the records that this crop was ever of 

 commercial importance there. 



The culture of Olives for the oil Avas many times tried in a small 

 way, and Richard Norwood produced some oil in 1660, and sent it 

 to the Company in London. But the business never succeeded, 

 though large numbers of trees were ordered to be set out. Perhaps 

 the Olive could now be profitably raised for pickling, as in California, 

 if choice varieties should be planted, but it is doubtful if it would 

 make so large returns per acre as the onions. 



e. — Sugar, Cassava or Tapioca, Wheat, etc. 



Sugar canes were planted by Somers in 1609, but they were eaten 

 up by the wild hogs. More were planted b} r Governor Tucker, in 

 1616. After that time various efforts were made to raise canes for 

 sugar, but it never grew very well, having " uncommonly short 

 joints." In spite of the unfavorable results of all the early attempts. 

 the Company in 1620 ordered a quantity of canes to be planted on 

 every share of land, and instructed the Governor to see to it that this 

 should be done, which he did, so far as he was able, for suitable 

 places were found to be far from common. But this attempt had 

 no success. Finally, when a small quantity of sugar began to be 

 made, about 1670-75, the Company forbade the use of cedar wood 

 for fuel to boil the juice, and so its manufacture was abandoned. It 

 is probable that enough sugar for domestic use was never made. 



It is recorded that Capt. John Hubbard made a box of sugar in 

 1670 and sent it as a present to the Company, for which they 

 returned their thanks and made him a present of an "Anker of 

 Brandy." But tiny adhered to their prohibition of the use of cedar 

 for fuel, and passed a more stringent law to the same effect, but with 



