2l6 TiMEHRl. 



it brayed,— a Barbadian sung out to the others, " Deed 

 fait souly, why de very mules is a blessing of the 

 manager," Since then I am glad to say we have, with 

 judicious care, enjoyed a good supply for both drinking 

 and navigable purposes. I know the East Coast Water 

 Scheme was started in 1875 or 1876, but it was entirely 

 on different lines to that of the West Coast, and as I have 

 not seen it since 1878, when I left Chateau M argot, I can- 

 not say when it was finished, but I think, now that the 

 West Bank and Canal empolder scheme is finished, the 

 entire colony is well supplied for every purpose. 



Our changes in Agriculture have not been many. The 

 only radical change, or almost the only one, I see is in 

 the use of artificial manure. The first manure used at 

 Haarlem was in 1865, when Messrs. Cavan and LUB- 

 BOCK, who represented property now belonging to the 

 Colonial Company, sent some different samples to be tried 

 on the then Rotterdam fields, I do not think many 

 estates used it ; to-day it is applied throughout the 

 colony. As regards improvements in field work, I cer- 

 tainly think in 1865 we did a better description than we 

 do to-day. Firstly,, the Planter had a better control 

 over his people, the Coolies, Chinese, and Africans being 

 indentured, and compelled to work every week-day; 

 still I think the abolition of the re-indenture system at 

 the time was a wise step. Secondly, he had not to con- 

 tend with the Planters' curse, bahama and para grass. 

 The land was more virgin and more easily worked. 



The last change I shall mention is the great one on 

 our sea shores, and this must include not only the great 

 wash that has occurred, but the immense improvement in 

 the drainage and easier facilities for shipping. In 1865 



