A. E. Verrill — The Bermuda Islands. 527 



At the present time a few good oranges are raised, on some large 

 estates, for family use, and some are sold for local consumption, but 

 not enough to supply more than a small fraction of the local demand. 

 Most of the trees that I examined were more or less infested with 

 scale insects, but usually were not badly damaged. (See ch. 27.) 



The number of oranges produced in 1881 was 24,228 dozen ; in 

 1891, 12,871 dozen; in 1901, 109 dozen. Of lemons, in 1881, 2,589 

 dozen ; 1891, 1,125 dozen ; 1901, 264 dozen. 



Peaches were at one time, especially about fifty to sixty years ago, 

 raised in large quantities, but owing to the ravages of insects, 

 allowed to go on unchecked, and perhaps of fungous diseases also, 

 the trees have nearly all been killed. 



g. — Corn or Maize. 



Indian corn was raised by the three pioneers in 1610-12, and from 

 that time forward it formed, with potatoes, the staple food product 

 of the islands. From 1615 down to 1684, or later, stores of Indian 

 corn were constantly kept in the magazines at the principal forts and 

 elsewhere, for a reserve against scarcity. As much as 300,000 ears 

 were sometimes stored for this purpose, and renewed annually.* 



It was stated by Governor Butler that Deputy-governor Kendall, 

 in 1616, sold to a pirate vessel 300,000 ears from the King's Castle, 

 for his own benefit (and the promise of a share in subsequent plun- 

 der, which he did not get). Levies for public purposes were often 

 made in corn, counting the ears, but finally it was found that dis- 

 honest persons cheated by retaining the larger ears and sending away 

 the small or damaged ones, to pay their debts, and so a law was 

 passed in 1623, requiring corn to be reckoned by weight. 



* The early writers give little information as to the modes of preparation and 

 cooking of the corn. Probably the corn meal was, for a long time, prepared 

 entirely by pounding it in a mortar. In one case the governor complained to 

 the Company that instead of keeping their muskets in good order, the men 

 had converted them into pestles for pounding corn. 



In connection with the records of the interminable and bitter religious dissen- 

 sions and persecutions, about 1640 to 1660, a famous " Mill" in Pembroke Parish 

 is incidentally mentioned as a place where the dissenters from the established 

 church were wont to meet, for services. This was probably a grist-mill for 

 grinding corn by a windmill. There is a place on Spanish Point still called 

 " The Mill," perhaps the site of the ancient mill, which was thus occupied as an 

 illegal church in 1647 aDd 1648. The clergyman, Eev. Nathaniel White, was 

 imprisoned in 1648 for "continuing the gathering of people at the mill, con- 

 trary to the laws and orders.'' He was afterwards banished (in 1649) to 

 Eleutheria, but later, was allowed to return. 



