176 TRACTS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, &c. 



SECTION XXVII. 



Reply to Doctor Berry's Letter — English Husbandry acknotcledged by 

 St. Helena Farmers superior to their Own — Soil and Climate peculiarly 

 favourable to Cultivation — Accounts Received of the spreading Property 

 and Re-production of Potatoes upon Islands in the South Seas — Experi- 

 ments to ascertain these Points — Lead to a Singular and Advantageous 

 Mode of Potatoe Culture in tropical Climates. — Potatoes a good Prepa- 

 ration for Corn Crops. Fishery at St. Helena formerly Productive — 

 Evils of the present System — Improvements suggested. Establishment of 

 Chinese at St. Helena — Differs from that generally adopted — Their Pay) 

 Rations, and Occupations. Trees attract Moisture and Rain — Ctdtivated 

 Land has a similar Tendency. Experiment in reaping Barley — Wheat 

 — Yields per Acre ]0^ Tons of green Fodder, in tico Months from the 

 Time of Sowing — Loss of Weight uhen hayed, 100 Pounds in 146. — 

 Hints suggested fur ascertaining the relative MoiMure imbibed by culti- 

 vated and uncultivated Land. — Nurseries of Trees established at 

 St. Helena. — Pineasters preferable to Arabian Date for Cloathing the 

 Summit of the Hills. — Favourable Report of Doctor Berry' s Fermoifing 

 Balls. 



To Andrew Berry, Esq. M. D. 

 SIR, 



Your oflioial letter, dated the 12tli of March, contains some 

 judicious remarks and valuable hints which are well deserving 

 attention. These, and the testimony you have borne, in confir- 

 mation of opinions I have long held and promulgated, in respect 

 to the capabilities of this island, are highly gratifying to me ; for 

 being thus spontaneously offered by one whose long experience 

 in pursuing objects of improvement, similar to those in which I 



