TRACTS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, &c. 197 



at three years and a half growth, 9^^ feet high. Some red wood 

 trees of the same age are from 6 to 8 feet high, with fine straight 

 stems now in red blossom. 



3Iay 20fh, 1813. — At Plantation-house there is amongst the 

 pineasters sown in May, 180.9, and transplanted in May, 1810, a 

 remarkable fine tree which this day, in four years, measures ten 

 feet eleven inches. Some Morgossa trees (the seed of which was 

 sown on the 26th of February, 1812), transplanted the 3d of 

 October, measure S^ feet high ; with horizontal branches which 

 cover a space of 4j feet in diameter. This is a surprising growth 

 in fifteen months from the seed. I also this day measured a beau- 

 tiful young cypress which was a seed on the 8th of April, 1811, 

 and transplanted on the 2d of July, 1812, and has now attained 

 the height of four feet and five inches. These few notices may 

 be of use hereafter to refer to; and are, undoubtedly, suflicient 

 to convince all unbiassed persons here, and elsewhere, of the 

 facility with which plantations of useful timber, and of fruit trees, 

 might be raised at St. Helena. It is, indeed, much to be lamented, 

 that any obstruction whatever should stand in the way of these 

 extensive and valuable improvements. If the goats are not ex- 

 terminated, and the sheep tamed and tended, there is but 'too 

 much reason to apprehend that those animals will be a 'constant 

 source of vexation and loss, to those who have really a desire to 

 contribute their efforts to the general good of the island, 



3Iat/ 20th, 1813. 



