PLANTING ON ARCENSTON, 135 



guards. A list of them is annexed. . , . , A tin trough 

 placed under one of the wattles for the pheasants to drink from, has 

 water in it during the driest seasons, affording a proof of how much 

 moisture is attracted by planting. The above is enclosed on the 

 sides accessible to cattle by a fence of cask staves. 



" We now come to a second enclosure planted with a double row 

 of pinus excelsa, which are growing well. Buddlea, vites trifolia, 

 gorse, broom, and brambles, border the path in one thick mass, with 

 the beautiful crimson flower of the hibiscus peeping through the 

 foliage. Between the base of the High Peak and the Little Peak is 

 a bare ridge exposed to the strong trade wind, producing sedge and a 

 few stunted shrubs. The Little Peak is enclosed by a bank and 

 ditch, and is cultivated all over, producing light and uncertain crops 

 of English or sweet potato. To leeward of and below it, shrubs grow 

 luxuriantly, and an excavation has been converted into a nursery, but 

 the soil is dry and porous, and tender plants do not survive even a 

 short drought in it. Pine apples have been planted, and will probably 

 succeed here. There is also a fine lime tree, whose roots have found 

 their way into a fissure in the cinder; it consequently flourishes, 

 whilst every attempt to grow others near it has failed. 



" All the first division is planted suflficiently, and nothing is 

 required but attention to the growing trees and shrubs, and keeping 

 the fences in repair. It is surrounded by Elliot's Pass, a road cut 

 out of the solid cinder, and passing horizontally quite round the 

 Mountain, which at several points is tunnelled through. It affords 

 great facilities for planting the sides of the mountain and ravines — is 

 a convenient path for the shepherds, and a pleasant walk of about 

 three miles, lined with blackberiy bushes bearing plenty of fruit, and 

 numbers of trees and shrubs. 



" The ravines present the appearance of dense thickets, bramble, 

 buddlea, vitex, etc., having completely clothed them. Thousands of 

 small birds flock about the bushes, and are increasing wonderfully ; 

 they consist almost exclusively of avadavats introduced by Captain 

 Burnett. This pass was commenced in 1839 by Lieutenant Wade, 

 Royal Marines, and completed in January 1840. In 1861 about 600 

 yards of the path on the weather side were considerably widened by 

 Captain Barnard. 



" The second and most important division commences below 

 Elliot's Pass, adjoining which are the farm buildings, consisting of a 

 a cow-house, fodder store, and stock yards, with slaughtering triangle, 

 and every convenience for stall-feeding oxen, penning sheep, and 



