^ 174 — 



duced into Mauritius from Melbourne and other places, have 

 grown very rapidly in town as well as in higher places, — the 

 experience of Mr Home who has had a good deal to do with 

 imported varieties, seems to prove that they are worthless 

 for this island. 



From India, the umbrageous trees on the Northern hills 

 would be iBOst adapted to Mauritius, but it would rest for the 

 Conservators of Forests there and Directors of G-ardens to 

 enumerate the best of them. Besides there are already in 

 Mauritius many plants natives of India which are naturalized 

 in the island for a long while. 



13o. Having stated what are the best trees to plant on the 

 denuded slopes of the Hills and Mountains of the Island in 

 the lower Lands, will you suggest the best mode of planting 

 those slopes, and give your view to the Commission upon 

 the subject ? 



13. Doctor Meller has referred this question to Mr Home, 

 the following is his answer: " The best way with some kinds 

 would be to sow the seeds where the plants are wished to be 

 grown. This, and planting should be done at the commence- 

 ment of the rainy season. Young plants of seeds that are 

 long in germinating should however be tended in nurseries 

 for some time before transplanting and, as a rule, all the 

 smaller seeds should be similarly taken care of." 



14o. Can you state what would be the cost, per acre of land 

 of planting the Sea-Shores, the Hills and Mountains, and the 

 lower and upper lands of the Island ? 



14. This question was also referred by Dr. Meller to Mr* 

 Home, who has been engaged i'or some time past, planting 

 the Cannoniers' Point, a calculation of the cost of which was 

 made. Roughly it might be put down as one half penny each 

 plant, — but if the ground were very rough, required much 

 cleaning and labor, it would be nearer one penny each plant. 



At " Virginia " and " Mon Desert " Estates, Grand Port, 

 the cost of planting established trees, such as ri!aos,Cocoanut 

 trees is reckoned at three cents,— as stated by M. F. Cloupet, 

 and Mr. O. Chevreau owners of the above Estates. 



15o. Do you consider the preservation of birds to be indis- 

 pensable to the welfare of the Island plantations, and do you 



