TRACTS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, &c. 8T 



Helena whenever tliey shall be able to supply the articles above 

 enumerated. 



Moreover, the quantity of straw produced from 250 acres of 

 corn may be rated at 500 tons, which would not only be a valuable 

 acquisition of fodder, but would also afford large quantities of 

 manure for the improvement of the lands. For both these pur- 

 poses it would be extremely valuable, where the price of hay has 

 been from ,£10. to <£12. a ton. 



Here, I have supposed no more than 250 acres annually in 

 the cultivation of corn. This is only one acre in twenty-four of 

 the 6000 acres of free and lease lands, and could be no very 

 arduous task to cultivate, if a proper spirit of industry were once 

 excited amongst the Planters, and if the labour of their slaves 

 and servants were properly directed. 



If lucerne, Guinea grass, silla, mangel wurzel, were added to 

 the above supplies of corn, together with a more extensive culture 

 of yams and potatoes, it must be evident that the greatest improve- 

 ment might be expected, and that the whole together would 

 soon render St. Helena abundantly productive of those neces- 

 saries of life for which the inhabitants have been, during the last 

 60 or 70 years, almost wholly dependant on other countries, a 

 dependence which has cost the Honourable Company many 

 hundred thousand pounds ; whilst the planters, so far from having 

 derived the smallest benefit, have lost sight of their real interests ; 

 and by relying upon the certainty of provision, they naturally 

 became less industrious, because the necessity of labour no 

 longer existed. 



20^/i September, 1810. 



