82 TRACTS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, &c. 



they themselves have always considered equally important to 

 their own interests, as it is to the original intention of maintaining 

 this establishment. 



At the present moment the summer heats have burnt up all 

 the pastures to the eastward of the island,* I went yesterday and 

 inspected those at Long Wood, and was astonished to find them 

 so exhausted and bare. It is, however, by no means difficult to 

 explain the causes ; for those grasses are as old as the island ; 

 where they are eaten down there is no appearance, at present, of 

 re-production ; and where cattle have for many months been 

 excluded, the old wire-grass is become tufted, and as dry as 

 thatch, with naked intervals between ; moreover many places are 

 mossy ; and the whole extent of the pastures is hide-bound. 



In some part of what is called the Gut\ (where the ground had 

 been loosened and stirred) even, at this dry time of the year, are 

 most luxuriant patches of fine, young and tender grass. — The 

 same may be seen at Plantation-house. Thus nature points out 

 a very simple process for improving any of the pasture lands in 

 this island. 



The best writers on agriculture have most clearly demonstrated 

 the fertilizing effect which is produced by the atmosphere, upon 

 lands prepared to admit its influence. The earth in its natural and 

 compact state can receive no benefit of this kind ; for if the rains 

 are copious, particularly on the declining surfaces of St. Helena, 

 they run ofi^as fast as they fall, and if not, the compactness of the 

 surface prevents their sinking more than an inch deep ; so that 

 they are exhaled by the first hot sun — and consequently they can 

 leave little or no improvement. If, however, the soil were 

 loosened to the depth of nine or ten inches by the plough, it is 



* November 29, 1810. 



t The low ground which formed the lower garden at Long Wood. 



