ST. HELENA. 
19 
are in the occupation of the Governor, the Lieutenant-Governor, 
and the Company, which, added to the free and leased lands before 
mentioned, amount to between seven and eight thousand acres 
now under cultivation. The residue of the island, which is con- 
sidered as containing in the whole thirty thousand acres, is in a great 
degree useless, though a large portion might be rendered serviceable 
as grazing land, were it not for the frequent scarcity of water. In 
no part of the world is farming a more profitable business than in 
St. Helena. In favourable seasons the richest ground will produce 
three crops of potatoes in a year, yielding an aggregate of four 
hundred bushels per acre, which are here worth eight shillings 
per bushel ; a most immoderate profit ! As the very great quantity 
of rats, that infest every field, prevents the cultivation of any kind 
of grain, the farmers are limited to grazing, and the raising of fruit 
and vegetables. Oranges, limes, lemons, figs, grapes, guavas, bananas, 
peaches, pomegranates, melons, water-melons, and pumpkins, are 
the produce of every farm. A few mangos, cocoa-nuts, pine-apples, 
and strawberries, are to be seen at the Governor's table only. 
One solitary apple orchard thrives, and yields to the proprietor 
not unfrequently five hundred pounds a year. In every other part 
of the island where this favourite European fruit has been tried, it 
has failed. The Arum esculentum is cultivated only for the use of 
the slaves. The flocks of sheep are by no means adequate to the con- 
sumption of the island, or equal to what it would support. The 
English breed would answer best; but the laws of England prohibit 
the exportation of sheep ; nor has any indulgence in this respect 
been hitherto obtained in favour of this important little colony, 
though application has, I understand, been frequently made for that 
VOL. I. D 
