Tropical Farming. 131 



I do not think it desirable that individuals should iso- 

 late themselves in the interior, as life on such a farm 

 would be almost unbearable. When attempts are being 

 made to .establish homesteads, the parties entering upon 

 such an undertaking should have in their mind's eye 

 the establishing of a good social circle. It is impos- 

 sible for the average farmer, who is but an agricul- 

 tural labourer, to take the lead in that dire6lion. It is 

 therefore in my opinion the duty of some others of our 

 enlightened fellow-citizens to take the initiative step, and 

 bring to bear the advantages of their education and cul- 

 ture in building up the social circle. All that our people 

 want is example, and they will soon follow in the foot- 

 steps of those who have succeeded, for which they cannot 

 be too highly praised. We have many gentlemen in our 

 midst who have done well for themselves and for their 

 country, in the pulpit, at the bar, and in the pra6lice of 

 medicine ; these are the examples that the rising gene- 

 ration are striving to follow, and I say all honour to 

 those who succeed. I am sure if we could point to a 

 dozen men who have succeeded in making comfortable 

 and independent livings, on well-established homesteads 

 in the highlands of our country, there would be hun- 

 dreds of good and true men in our midst ready to 

 do likewise. We should also encourage thousands from 

 afar to join us in turning a howling wilderness into an 

 earthly paradise. Finally, farm-servants and labourers 

 should likewise be well selected, for I not only advocate 

 choice lands, choice grasses, choice stock, fruits, vege- 

 tables and economic products, but also the best of the 

 human race. 



R2 



