88 ST. HELENA 



It might seem premature to offer an opinion in respect to this, at 

 so short a time from the commencement of the experiment, but 

 considering the progress the plants have made, the extraordinarily 

 long period of drought to which they were subjected during the 

 very earliest stages of their growth, and perhaps, too, at times not 

 the most favourable treatment resulting from inexperience on 

 my part, I can express myself well satisfied with their present 

 promising state. In comparing the growth of our plants with those 

 of the same age raised in India and elsewhere, it ought to be remem- 

 bered that owing to the limited extent of our propagating depart- 

 ment it is necessary for us to remove them to the open air at a very 

 early stage, and consequently they do not acquire so large proportions 

 in the first year as plants kept six months or so under glass. As an 

 evidence of this, I planted on the 6th March in prepared soil, in 

 the bed of the propagating house at Plantation, one cinchona plant 

 of each of the four species in cultivation here for the purpose of 

 watching their development under glass. I measured them on the 

 thirteenth of this month and found that the larger (sp. C. succumbra} 

 had reached a height of 4 feet 6 inches, with a circumference of 



4 inches round the stem. The next in size (a C. pahudiana) is 4 feet 



5 inches with a stem of 3 inches in circumference, and C. calisaya is 

 2 feet 10 inches and very healthy. The other plant (C. officinalis) 

 was cut down a few days ago, and measured 4 feet 8 inches, but 

 was not so robust and healthy as the other trees. 



J, H. CHALMERS, 

 Supt. of Cinchona Plantation and Public Nursery. 



A great reduction in the Civil Government took place 

 on Admiral Patey's arrival. It was represented that the 

 Civil establishment was larger than necessary, and re- 

 trenchment was the order of the day ; so, when Patey had 

 been here two years, the Home Government recalled him, 

 and considerably reduced the salary, appointing the then 

 Colonial Secretary, Hudson Ralph Janisch, Esq., as Gover- 

 nor of the island. 



In 1871 there occurred a terrible flood, chiefly from the 

 sides of Ladder Hill and Rupert's Hill, causing great damage 

 to the houses situated at the base on either side. About 

 100 persons emigrated to the Cape of Good Hope, owing 

 to the great distress of trade here, and a Commission was 

 appointed to inquire into the causes of the financial depres- 

 sion. The chief causes assigned were the reduction of the 

 naval and military establishments, for H.M. ships had made 

 it their headquarters during the suppression of the slave 

 trade, and thousands of pounds annually circulated. 

 Another cause was the opening of the Suez Canal. Living 



