3i20 CULTIVATION OF TOBACCO. 



entrance. These two spots are about thirty miles 

 apart. The rocks in the valley of the Karuah 

 belonjr to the transition series, and on the shore 

 of Port Stephen, they consist of porphyry, basalt, 

 and greenstone. 



An instance here came under my own observation 

 of the beneficial results which sometimes arise from 

 the punishment of transportation ; knowing the 

 difficulty of getting good servants, I was curious 

 to learn how Mr. Boydell had procured his excellent 

 butler, and on inquiry was surprised to learn that 

 he had been sent out for robbing Madame Vestris 

 of her jewels. 



Mr. Boydell was cultivating tobacco to some con- 

 siderable extent, with the hope of being able to sup- 

 ply the colony ; others who speculated on a larger 

 scale were ruined ; for it soon turned out that it was 

 impossible to compete in cheapness with American 

 tobacco. This was in consequence of the extensive 

 establishment required on the estate, — the large 

 drying sheds that had to be erected, the number of 

 coopers necessary, and the general high price of 

 labour. 



Mr. Boydell was also cultivating the vine, of 

 which he made a light kind of wine, a very excel- 

 lent species of hock. The Messrs. M 'Arthurs have 

 been at great expense in promoting this branch of cul- 

 tivation, and are entitled to their share of credit. 

 But to Mr.Bushbythe colony owes the first introduc- 

 tion of the grape, which will hereafter prove of inesti- 

 mable benefit, from the great commerce to which it 



