xxxviii INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 



entirely prevented, by the introduction of green fodder crops,* 

 and a proper system of husbandry. This subject has been fully 

 discussed and illustrated in several papers contained in the First 

 Part of this Work. By these it will be seen, that the farmers of St. 

 Helena have always depended solely on their pasture lands for the 

 subsistence of their live stock : this was the real cause of their heavy 

 losses : but before I quitted the Government, I had the gratification 

 lo observe, that they began to be sensible of the advantages of the 

 system of husbandry which I had been at so much pains to in- 

 culcate. I earnestly hope, they may henceforward have every 

 possible encouragement to persevere in their laudable beginnings ; 

 for this would not only be the most effectual means of averting 

 the calamities incidental to seasons of drought, but would also 

 promote the general interests of the island, by making it abound 

 with almost every necessary of life ; and consequently it would 

 become more useful and valuable for the purpose of refreshing 

 fleets. 



Doctor Roxburgh's Account of the Indigenous and Exotic 

 Plants, which is given in the Appendix, would have left me 

 nothing to add upon this subject, were it not that several of the 

 vegetable productions appear to deserve more particular notice, 



* This opinion is fully corroborated by Governor Wilks's Agricultural Report, dated 

 10th of March, 1815. 



" Although," says he, " the calculation of profit on an acre of potatoes may be greater 

 " than that on an acre of corn, it is a sufficient illustration of the necessity of corn crops 

 " to any safe system of husbandry in this island, that as far as speculative opinion may 

 " warrant a conclusion, the Company's stock of cattle would, in the event of a severe 

 " drought, be preserved, while those of most of the other landholders would perish." 



The younger Mr. Breame, of Norfolk, lately returned to England, after four years 

 experience at the Company's farms, assures me, that he has found, after acorn crop has 

 fairly covered the soil, it is out of all danger, because the dews and drizzling rain are 

 sufficient to bring it to maturity. 



