G2 The Journal of the Royal 
here with little or no warning, is most damaging to 
cassava cultivation, as it saturates the land and brings 
to bear upon the roots a degree of moisture against 
which it is impossible for them to contend. The land 
in this field selected for cassava culture is high and 
slopes abruptly down towards the main drains which 
skirt the whole of the cultivation. Situated in this way 
it is next to impossible for water to lodge in the vicinity 
of the plants. The crop of cassava last derived from 
this acreage was large, but did not pay as well as was 
expected, as the value was only moderate and paid 
assistance in connection with the reaping had to be 
called in. 
The potato beds are perhaps the most entertaining 
feature of the cultivation here. The luxuriance with 
which they send out their stock of green leaves is a 
beautiful spectacle. Alternate rain and sunshine, the 
nice mean so dear to the heart of the agriculturist, had 
been prevailing for some time prior to my visit, and a 
withered leaf could nowhere be seen. About one- third 
of an acre is planted with this vegetable, and this strip 
of land contains 79 banks all well drawn up and 
bordered by neatly dug drains. The potato is far more 
hardy than either yams or cassavas, and once planted, 
it gives little trouble, so long as the land is not at the 
mercy of swamps. The plants send out such a profusion 
of leaves that they stand in little danger of being 
choked by weeds, which are so fatally successful in 
overcoming other farm products in the struggle for life. 
After four months they are ready for harvesting. From 
the appearance of his rows, the farmer is sanguine that 
he will get fully 30 lbs. or more of choice marketable 
