136 EPPEOTS OP FORESTS ON MOISTURE. 



■ayiug. manure for the cultivated lands, a great part of which in 1861 

 had been constantly cropped with sweet potatoes and its fertilizing 

 powers extracted. The farm buildings were so scattered and ill 

 arranged that no great body of manure could be collected. All the 

 slaughtering was carried on in the garrison, and the offal thrown into 

 the sea. I made a complete change in the system ; built a fodder store, 

 demanded chaff cutters and oil-cake crushers, formed large yards, 

 adjoining the cow-house by excavating, did away with detached sheds, 

 and connected a sufficient number of iron tanks to ensure a constant 

 supply of water on the spot. 



"All crops are most uncertain excepting sweet potatoes, which, 

 unfortunately, are not generally liked as a vegetable, and cannot be 

 used in soup. Regular and large sowings of English potatoes are 

 now made, and several good crops have been obtained ; the arrange- 

 ment for thoroughly manuring the ground once in two years evidently 

 .tending to restore fertility to the soil, for the sweet potatoes even 

 come to perfection in less time than they did before. Great losses 

 must be expected from the ravages of caterpillars and long droughts, 

 but the system should be persevered in, if only for the purpose of 

 introducing something like rotation of crops, not hitherto much 

 studied. The best seed potatoes have been obtained from the Cape 

 of Good Hope ; they are red, and about the size of walnuts. Some 

 from Loanda have also turned out very well. Supplies according to 

 demand are sent by the contractors for cattle from Table Bay every 

 two months. The seed saved on the spot is worthless. Pumpkins 

 grow to a large size in the weather gardens, weighing upwards of 

 80 lbs. ; they are propagated from cuttings. Great efforts have been 

 made to grow cabbages in large numbers, but the caterpillars destroy 

 nearly all the seedlings, and there are never sufficient for a general 

 issue. French beans succeed better than any other vegetables when- 

 ever the droughts do not last long ; about two out of three sowings 

 fail. Now and then a fair crop of turnips may be got, but carrots 

 are a long time in growing, and never attain even a moderate size. 

 The New Zealand spinach grows wild amongst the other crops, and at 

 times is gathered in large quantities. No other vegetables are grown 

 in the sheep walk or weather gardens. 



" Guano has been twice obtained from Boatswain Bird Island, and 

 seemed to produce good crops of sweet potatoes, but stable and farm 

 manure is better, and more easily obtained. 



" In the Home gardens about the Mountain cottage, leeks are pro- 

 duced plentifully, as well as French beans, lettuce, endive, and herbs. 



