136 TRACTS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, &c. 



April lltb. — Gathered some fine specimens from the trans- 

 planted wheat, and sent them to England. Their growth was 

 5 months and 2 days from the seed. 



I regret having omitted to notice the average number of grains 

 produced from a single grain. I intended the transplanted bed 

 should have determined the produce per acre— but having suf- 

 fered a good deal from Canary birds, this was prevented. I shall 

 therefore only add, that the transplanted specimen, before it was 

 attacked by birds, had as fine an appearance as any crop of wheat 

 T ever beheld. This success, although upon a small scale, most 

 unequivocally proves that St. Helena is capable of producing 

 wheat of excellent quality. In several other printed papers I have 

 also shewn, that the culture of wheat, as well as of other corn, 

 may be extended even to more than the present population can 

 possibly consume. 



A paper I have seen on the subject of transplanting wheat, by 

 Mr. John Ainsworth, of Glen, recommends the practice as one of 

 the best means of providing against a scarcity of this necessary 

 of life. The saving of seed is undoubtedly a considerable advan- 

 tage, since it is stated that half a peck sown in a seed bed, would 

 furnish plants for an acre. Besides this saving of seed, there are 

 in England some other advantages pointed out : but as they do 

 not apply to the more temperate climate of St. Helena, it is unne- 

 cessary to notice them. Upon the whole, however, it seems that 

 this excellent mode of culture is deserving more attention in 

 England, than has hitherto been paid to it. 



In India and China, transplanting is the common practice. 

 Seed beds of rice are thickly sown for the purpose of furnishing 

 plants for the lands. The young plants are deemed sufficiently 

 strong for transplanting in 30 days : even until 60 days they con- 

 tinue fit to be removed. It will be seen by the foregoing wheat 



