VARIETY OF PRODUCTION. 357 



annually 462,000 lbs. of tobacco, worth £12,600 sterling j and 

 15,900,000 lbs. of rice, worth £132,550 sterling. Nobody has 

 yet made a decisive attempt at the growth of these two articles — 

 no doubt because the attention of the people has not been 

 directed to them ; nor are there sufficient data by which their 

 efforts can be guided. 



I will only remark that Creole rice, as an article of food, 

 is preferred — except, however, by the Coolies, who give pre- 

 cedence to their own grain. If the quality depend upon the 

 variety cultivated, how easily can seeds be imported from India ; 

 if from the method followed in its preparation, how easily 

 again can we adopt the method. The cultivation of tobacco has 

 not yet been made an object of speculation, simply because, as I 

 fear, its preparation or curing requires a certain degree of prac- 

 tical knowledge in which we are wanting. We should encourage, 

 as they have done in Jamaica, the importation of skilful 

 labourers in that branch, by assisting the immigration here of 

 some hands from Cuba. The agronomic station should be placed 

 under the direction of the Government botanist, assisted by the 

 professor of chemistry. 



To the agricultural establishment of Hoffwil, formed and 

 conducted for a number of years by that distinguished philan- 

 thropist, the late Mr. De Fellenberg, Switzerland owes its pro- 

 gress in the art of husbandry. To the model farms of: Roville 

 and Grignon, France is greatly indebted for the advance she has 

 lately made, and the position she now occupies as an agricultural 

 country. I have known young gentlemen of rank, fortune and 

 education, spending months at Roville, under the tuition of Mr. 

 Mathieu de Dombasle, in order to acquire sound information on 

 agricultural chemistry, and a practical knowledge of farming 

 operations, which they afterwards successfully applied in the 

 conduct of their own properties. Our model estates might be 

 based on a plan submitted by me to His Excellency Lord Harris, 

 in the year 1849, and the details of which are exposed in the 

 Appendix. 



The tillage of the soil ought to receive the larger share of 

 encouragement. To this subject I cannot too often return; 

 for, excepting the cultivation of the sugar-cane, all other 

 growths are neglected. And yet upon the success of agricultural 

 pursuits depends the prosperity of all classes — not of the hired 



