TRACTS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, &c. 109 



the Cactus Tuna be found ; as the many publications of the late 

 revered Doctor James Anderson, of Madras, have so amply 

 shown. 



These publications extensively distributed, and the numerous 

 supplies of Nopal and Tuna that were issued at Madras, always 

 with a view of part being landed at this island, as plants that 

 would be of the greatest value to the crews of the large fleets 

 that resort here, and are detained for often a long period of 

 time, from their capability of thriving on the barren inhospita- 

 ble looking exterior of this island, render it unnecessary for me 

 to say much on this part of the subject, it having engaged so 

 much the attention of the philanthropic Doctor Anderson ; and 

 which must be well known here from his many publications 

 received. 



Having stated thus much. Honourable Sir, it is impossible for 

 me to avoid mentioning my disappointment at not being able 

 to find one plant of the Cactus Tuna, and but a very few of the 

 Kew Nopal : so few as to be more an object of curiosity than 

 utility. 



The Kew Nopal being, however, the Cactus of most value, 

 both as a plant for rearing the fine cochineal, and therefore called 

 Cactus CocMnilifcr , as well as its superiority as a vegetable for 

 sea-stock, I hope the endeavour I made while at Madras to sup- 

 port Dr. Anderson's most anxious wish of establishing the culture 

 of the Nopal and Tuna as a vegetable, principally for sea-stock, 

 and as a vegetable for the poor, will be some apology for the 

 the liberty I now take in pressing this subject on the attention of 

 the government of St. Helena, and of recommending that a por- 

 tion of the Botanical Garden, as it is called, in James's Town, 

 may be appropriated for this most useful purpose. I mention 

 this garden as being public property, and from its being enclosed, 



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