BY J. H. MAIDEN. 78 1 



The island was uninhabited prior to its discovery by Captain 

 Cook, and doubtless these humble vegetables were the first ever 

 grown on it by the hand of man. 



On the 18th March he "sowed 3 cotton-seeds on ye top of ye 

 hill." King carefully recorded progress in those early days, as 

 the success of the plantings was of great importance, not only to 

 the infant settlements, but also to Sydney, which had just been 

 founded. The first maize (Indian corn) showed itself on Sunda}^ 

 23rd March, and on 30th March, doubtless as an extra treat for 

 Sunday, he "cut some cress and mustard for ye people; left some 

 for seed." 



This first Government garden was doubtless close to the ofiicial 

 township, and was known as " Arthur's Vale." 



I have been permitted to make, through the courtesy of Mr. 

 F. M. Bladen, a copy of a plan of Norfolk Island, entitled, " Plan 

 of the Settlers' lots and the ground cultivated for the Publick on 

 Norfolk Island, 1796." It contains "Lots of ground cleared of 

 timber for the Publick use, green." There are three "green" 

 areas, one at the settlement (the present township), a second 

 called "Queenboro'," now known as Longridge, and a third 

 called " Phillipburgh," now known as Cascades. 



At an earlier date (19th March, 1794, Lieut.-Govr. King 

 reported : — 



"Employed at cultivating Government ground: — At Sydney, 154 acres, 

 45 men. At Queensborough, 176 acres, 50 men. At Phillipsburgh, 42 

 acres, 18 men " (Hist. Rec. N.S.W. ii. p. 191). 



pointing out that one hundred and thirteen only are employed 

 at cultivation. 



"A great quantity of Government's maize remains to be got in, and the 

 376 acres belonging to Government are so much overrun with high weeds, 

 owing to the constant rains, that it would require five times that number of 

 men to get it in any tolerable state time enough for receiving the next 

 season's seed, which should be sown in May " {Op. cit. Vol. ii., p. 1S7). 



King, on 5th Novr., 1794, reported the number of " Gardeners 

 at public garden, Arthur's Vale, for rearing plants and preserving 

 50 



