196 THE BEE, OR Feb. 2, 



dug near tlie water's edge, and filled with garden mould 

 into each of which two or three feeds of the Nymphnea fE- 

 gyptian bean) fliould be planted and gently watered till they 

 vegetate; after which, they can live at a confiderable depth^ 

 and will cover the water with their leaves and a moft beau- 

 tiful flower. The feeds afford a good pulfe, and tl»e root a 

 wliolefpnie yam, that are eat by the natives of Southern Afia. 



I fend by Captain, Gregory, a boK filled with the yam, 

 Diofcoria Aiata. The Convolvolus Batatas fliall be fent,when 

 they have taken root here, in tubs of earth, as it is propa- 

 gated by cuttings of the ftalk. •, and, in cafe you are not al- 

 ready in poffeiTion of thefe two roots, I take this opportunity 

 to affure you, they will prove a great means of maintaining 

 the inhabitants, if the planters betwixt the upper part of 

 Lemon Valley and tlie governor's garden will pay attention 

 to their culture. 



Araongll the feeds in a box, which I have likewife com- 

 mitted to Captain Gregory's care, I muft diftinguifh a fmall 

 parcel of the Phr.(l-olus Bengalevfn^ on account cf the prolific 

 nature of this Phapclus, and valuable bean it affords for 

 food. The Cynofurus Corocanus, Paiiicum, Milium, and 

 'Zizari'ia, will affovd food for the poultry, and fodder for the 

 cattle, 



The tree feeds I have put up in this box, are chiefly with 

 a \-iew to ellablilb fuflicient fire wood, and to ferve as a 

 iheker, and to fupport the '.dne of the yam and the fvveet po- 

 tatoe, although iome are fit for other purpofes, as you will 

 dee by the remarks attached to the inclofed lift of them. 



In low latitudes, we frequently find iflands of confide- 

 rable height, covered with wood to their fummits j but the 

 height and expofure of St. Helena may be fome bar to this. 



I have no doul^t, however, that by degrees your fociety 

 will eftablilh fhelter of trees on the fummit of ;he illand, to 

 yroteft more tender plants from bleak winds. 



'' That no afliftance may be wanting which this country 

 affords, I have directed your plan to be publilhed in our 

 Courier. 



" in return for your attention, I can only inclofe accounts 

 of an attempt in agitation for the culture of genuine cochi- 

 neal in the honourable Company's poffefllons, in the promot- 

 ing which, the fociety, by its central fituation, may becomp 

 very inftrumental. I am, &c. James Andersch." 



