ST. HELENA. 
vegetables to decay, to selling them for less than they have hitherto 
demanded. This evil might easily be obviated, and the combination 
broken, by a public garden, to be cultivated by the Government 
slaves, the produce of which might be sold to the ships at a price 
sufficient to clear all the expenses, and allow a handsome profit. In 
this garden might be raised different kinds of fruit-trees, to be 
afterwards dispersed over the island. The mango, which is now 
a solitary plant in the possession of the Governor, would thrive in 
the different vallies. The Loquot, and, other Chinese fruits, would 
probably grow in any part of the island. But private individuals, 
who think only of present profit, will never undertake the necessary 
experiments. They must be conducted by Government, to answer 
any good purpose. 
The increase of the stock of cattle and sheep is an object of still 
greater importance. At present, although beef is served out to the 
crews of the Indiamen on their arrival, yet the supply is so scanty, 
that, for a great part of the year, the inhabitants are obliged to live 
on salt provisions, which are issued from the stores of the East India 
Company, at an annual loss of full six thousand pounds. 
Very extensive tracts of land, particularly at Longwood, are at 
present useless from the want of water. As all the vallies are sup- 
plied with running streams, which have their source at a considerable 
elevation, it seems probable that some solitary spring may exist 
above the level of these tracts ; if not, by the aid of machinery, 
water might be conducted to them. The expense would be amply 
repaid, by the many thousand head of cattle that would be main- 
tained on them. The water that finds its way to the sea along 
Rupert's Valley, would answer the purpose extremely well, and is 
