RAINFALL IN ST. HELENA. 119 



the island had been carried so far that wiser governors saw it to be 

 necessary to adopt some strenuous measure to restore the vegetation. 

 Nurseries were made, and experienced gardeners were introduced by 

 the Company, and trees from all parts of the world were introduced 

 and flourished. Prizes were given for the number of trees reared, 

 irrespective of their character. The cluster-pine (pinus pinaster) was 

 sown very extensively, and several plantations of this tree remain in 

 a thriving condition. But a variety of other forest trees, greatly pre- 

 ferred both for beauty and use, were planted about the same period 

 and have flourished well. In regard to the results, my correspondent 

 writes : — " For many years past, since the general growth of our trees, 

 we have been preserved from this scourge ; and droughts, such as 

 were formerly recorded, are now altogether unknown. We have no 

 means, however, of otherwise comparing the rainfall of the two periods, 

 as no tables, or even estimates, of the rainfall can be had for the 

 earlier dates. Our fall of rain now is equal to that of England, and 

 is spread almost evenly over the year. The showers fall more heavily 

 in two or three months of the year. But this period, though called 

 on this account the rainy season, is in no way to be compared to 

 what is understood by an inter-tropical rainy season." 



Meteorological observations are or were kept at Longwood and at 

 Plantation. I have at command only the record of the rainfall from 

 1841 to 1848. The amount of rain which fell in these years was : — 



1841, 68-925 1845, 19-509 



1842, 90-458 1846, 26-556 



1843, 37-189 1847, 42-441 



1844, 20-026 1848, 45-630 



The communication I have cited not only tells of the former 

 abundance of vegetation and moisture, and of frequent long-continued 

 droughts having followed the reckless destruction of forests, but it 

 tells of the replenishing of the island with trees under the fostering 

 care of the East India Company towards the close of the last 

 century ; and that subsequent to that, droughts such as had been 

 previously recorded had been for a long time altogether unknown. 

 But it was further added : — " Since the transfer of the Island from 

 the Company in 1836 the matter has been much neglected. The 

 liberal expenditure and prizes of the East India Company came to an 

 end. The business men of our population require, whether the profits 

 be large or small, that the returns shall be quich ; and they have no 

 idea of casting upon waters seed that cannot be found after so many 



