36 THE BOTANY OF BERMUDA. 
distances, and, as every one knows who has tried to improve plantations 
in the neighborhood of cedar trees, they monopolize all the good soil 
they can reach. 
“Tt is universally agreed,” says Dr. Robertson, “that the nature of 
this (St. George’s) and the other Bermuda Islands has undergone a 
surprising change for the worse since they were first discovered, the 
air being much more inclement, and the soil much more barren than 
formerly; this is ascribed to the cutting down of those fine spreading 
cedar trees for which the islands were famous, and which sheltered 
them from the blasts of the north wind at the same time that it pro- 
tected the undergrowth of the delicate plants and herbs. In short, 
the Summer Islands are now far from being desirable spots; and their 
natural productions are but just sufficient for the support of the inhab- 
itants, who, chiefly for that reason, perhaps, are temperate and lively to 
a proverb. * * * The Bermuda Islands, however, might still pro- 
duce some valuable commodities were they properly cultivated; * * * 
their oranges are still valuable; their soil is also said to be excellent 
for the cultivation of vines.”* 
As the historian had never visited the islands, his opinion is only 
cited for the strong testimony he bears to the general opinion a century 
ago that they were barren. There is, in fact, but very little good soil 
among them; the element silica in particular, which enters so largely 
into the composition of most fertile soils, being very wanting; potash 
and soda present in very small quantities, and iron, in the form of oxide 
or peroxide, much in excess in the soils which are otherwise the best. 
The small number of deciduous trees, and the prevalence of the cedar 
(Juniperus Bermudiana), which contributes little to the soil, are also a 
source of poverty. 
* Robertson’s America, 1777, VI., p. 286. 
