BOOK III. CHAP. VIII. 785 



reafon, probably, in the modern, improved flare of hufoandry in 

 England, turnips are applied as an excellent manure for impo- 

 verin*ed lands. In Jamaica, the fame root is not equally fit for the 

 purpofe, becaufe it does not grow here to any confiderable bulk, nor 

 is it fo fucculent as in England. 1 would propofe, therefore, to fub- 

 ftitute, in its room, the wild plantanc-tree, wherever it can be 

 brought to grov/. This plant is, in truth, a vegetablcj^'/'^s;/, full 

 of water; and as it never frucSlifies, fo it cannot probably exhauft 

 any foil. A walk of thefe fuckers might be planted on impoveriflied 

 land in a feafonable year, and fuffered to ftand for three years ; and 

 the ground hoed only till the plants appear to have ftruck root, and 

 to rife with vigour. In the third year they might be cut down, and 

 left to rot upon the furface. To fupport them in the early part of 

 their growth, it is neceffary to keep the ground clear of weeds 

 about them. Hoeing performs this, and loofens the earth ; which 

 facilitates the penetration of rains and dews through the furface. 

 When they are tolerably well grown, their broad, expanding leaves 

 will fliade and cool the ground in fuch a manner, as to preferve it 

 always moifl: and open, and fupprefs the afcent of weeds : from 

 this period, therefore, hoeing will not be fo neceffary. I fliould 

 not recommend the fruit-bearing plantane for this defign, as it cer- 

 tamly exhaufls land very much, and therefore would add to the 

 evil, inflead of removing it. 



The flems, or trunks, of any of thefe fpecles, cut in long junks, 

 are the bell provifion that can be laid aboard the homeward-bound 

 fhips, for fupport of the live-flock. Sheep, goats, cattle, hogs, 

 and poultry, are all fond of it ; and, as the flems preferve their 

 fucculence for a long fpace of time, the flock fed with It require 

 little or no water. For the fmaller animals the junks are chopped 

 into fmall pieces. 



They are flowed behind the mizzen- chains, where they do not 

 in the leaft incumber the fhip. 



122. Bonavisti;-Bean. -— Pbafeolus maximusperennis, &c. 



Sloane's Cat. 67. 

 This is cultivated in moft parts of the country, and thrives well 

 in almoft every foil. The bean is a wholefome palatable food, and 

 in general ufe. 



Vol. 111. 5 H 123. Kidney- 



