COMMITTEE ON COLONIAL BOTANISTS REPORT. 23 



99. Is there any further observation you would wish to 

 offer in connection with the development of the agricultural Aug. 21, 1865. 

 resources of the Colony ? I can only state, briefly, that every 

 month is adding to my knowledge of these resources ; that I 

 see no probability of our vegetation ever obtaining the luxu- 

 riance seen in some tropical regions ; but that I see no limits 

 to the increase of which our marketable products are suscep- 

 tible. Some of the measures which I deem requisite to this 

 end I have enumerated in a letter to the Hon. the Colonial 

 Secretary, appended to the report of the Colonial Botanist 

 for 1864. These are the following: 



1. An attempt to arrest the desiccation of the soil and climate, 



which has been, and is being occasioned by the burning of 

 the veld, by the partial or entire abandonment of the preva- 

 lent practice. 



2. An attempt to counteract the desiccation of soil and climate 



which has already been effected by the destruction of herbage 

 and bush in time past, by the general and extensive planting 

 of forest trees. 



3. An attempt to increase still further the humidity of the climate, 



by the formation of inland sheets of water, either with or 

 without appliances for the irrigation of arable land. 



4. The establishment of an experimental farm, where the proba- 



bility of profit being realized by the culture of different crops 

 and the utilization of their products may be tested, and 

 whence information on practical subjects connected therewith 

 may be supplied to all requiring it. 



5. The procuring from other countries information, over and 



above what is accessible in the Colony, in regard to arbori- 

 culture and forest economy, in regard to methods of conduct- 

 ing experimental farms, and in regard to markets which are 

 open for our products, the uses to which these products are 

 applied, and the possibility of presenting them in a state 

 calculated to secure a greater demand or higher prices. 



To the statements made in support of these suggestions in the 

 letter referred to, I would respectfully solicit the attention of 

 the committee. They will be found in pages 149, 150 of 

 the report. Not less important than these suggestions do I 

 deem the attention which is being given to measures calcu- 

 lated to facilitate the transport of agricultural products. It 

 would be easy to increase these products at once ; but the 

 expense of transport would render the increase unremunera- 

 tive. While such matters may engage the attention of the 

 Executive and the Legislature, I deem it of importance that 



