182 TRACTS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, &c. 



agricultural pursuits have been the extensive cultivation of corn, 

 potatoes, and all sorts of esculents. The minute details I have 

 given of many successful experiments on a variety of island pro- 

 ducts, cannot fail in carrying conviction to the mind of every 

 reasonable man, that my views for the improvement of the island, 

 are by no means speculative : being founded on the solid basis 

 of facts incontrovertibly established : and which is, unquestiona- 

 bly, the surest mode of guarding against error. 



There are, however, many other points that merit attention. 

 Every thing that tends to increase our internal resources for the 

 support of the inhabitants, or for administering to their comforts, 

 or for the refreshment of ships, is undoubtedly deserving a place 

 in the system that is now carrying on ; and which, if pursued 

 with ardour, will ultimately prove of infinite advantage to the 

 landholders, and will tend to relieve this island (in a great degree 

 at least) from its present dependence on other countries. 



The virtues of the different species of Nopal, as an antidote 

 for scorbutic disorders, have been so well established by the pub- 

 lications of your worthy relative, the philanthropic and much 

 respected Doctor Anderson, and the advantages Captain Haig 

 derived from the prickly Cactus, which abounds on Ladder Hill, 

 and many other dry places here, afford the strongest arguments 

 in favour of your suggestions on this subject. Due attention shall, 

 therefore, be paid to the appropriation of a part of the Botanic 

 Garden as a nursery for the Kew Nopal ; from whence, after being 

 naturalised to the climate, it might readily be transplanted to the 

 sides of the hills on either side of James' Town : which would 

 serve for utility as well as ornament, and would also be conve- 

 niently situated for the supply of shipping. 



The prickly, or Mauritius, Cactus, is apparently a hardy spe- 

 cies. It grows well even upon the rocky surface, and the sides 



