Fruits, in general, ripen best in the vallies near the coast; but almost on every farm are produced vines, figs, limes, oranges, lemons, citrons, guavas, bananas, peaches, quinces, pomegranates, tamarinds, mulberries, melons, water-melons, and pumpkins. Mangos, cocoa-nuts, su gar-cane, pine-apples, and strawberries, are also raised in the island, but only in small quantities. Apples have not succeeded generally; but one orchard, particularly, about three acres in extent, has been known, besides other fruits, to yield in one season 24,000 apples of a large size. Cherries have been tried, but without success. Gooseber ry and currant hushes when planted, become evergreens, and yield no fruit; but the common blackberry, which was introduced in the year 1780, has found the soil and climate so congenial, that it has completely overspread large tracts of ground ; and, as the only remedy against its encroach ments, a public order was issued, and has uniformly been in force, for its entire extirpation. A species of yarn, originally imported from •Madagascar, is commonly cul tivated in the vallies; but it requires almost continued moisture for fifteen months to bring it to perfection. Dur ing the last twenty years, however, the culture of the po tatoe has more profitably occupied the attention of the far mer; and three successive crops of this valuable root are frequently produced in one season. Cabbage, peas, beans, and other garden vegetables, are raised every where in great abundance. Altempts have more than once been made to introduce the cultivation of wheat, barley, and oats; but probably from drought, or some unknown peculiarity in the soil or climate, the experiment did not succeed. It is more from this failure, than from the alleged voracity of the rats and mice, that grain is not raised. Indeed, as the principal value of the island consists in its being a place of rendezvous and refreshment for the homeward bound ships from India, the cultivation of grain has been deemed of less importance, and less anxiously encouraged, than 'the rearing of live stock, and the production of wholesome vegetables.
The breed of cattle and sheep on the island is originally English ; but, in consequence of the large demands from the India ships, the stock is very scanty ; and the inhabi tants during the greater part of the year subsist upon rice and salt provisions, issued below prime cost from the Com pany's stores. Goats are numerous, and their flesh well tasted ; but pork, except what is reared by the more opu lent inhabitants, is of a very inferior quality, as the animals are chiefly fed with the heads and offals of the coarser kinds of fish. Rabbits abound in some spots. Rats and mice are amazingly numerous, and frequently very destructive. In 1756, they are said to have barked the trees at Long wood for food ; and in 1700 actually devoured one another, so as almost to clear the island of the whole tribe. 'With a little ordinary care, however, Governor Beatson cleared his farms and gardens of vermin, as completely as could have been done in England.
The canary bird abounds in the island ; and the Java sparrow is a great annoyance to the farmers. Red linnets are also numerous ; and are observed to build two nests, in the uppermost of which the male bird takes his station, and serenades the female with his song during her incuba tion. Pheasants and partridges, in consequence of their having been protected by government, have become nu merous; but the guinea-fowl, with which the island was formerly well stocked, are now seldom to be seen. The shores abound with sea-fowl, which deposit their eggs among the cliffs; and these, which are collected in the months of October and November, greatly resemble in flavour those of a plover. One species of these sea-birds
make their nests in the more central and woody eminen ces, whither they are often seen flying across the country with fish in their bills.
More than seventy kinds of fish are found on the coast ; but those which are commonly caught are, mackerel, albicore, cavalloes, jacks, congers, soldiers, old-wives, bull's-eyes, &c. The coal-fish, from two to three feet in length, are singularly delicate and high flavoured ; but seldom more than eight or 'ten of them are taken in the course of a year. The flying-fish, when pursued by their various enemies, often drop upon the rocks ; and some have been picked up, measuring more than two feet in length. Whales are frequently seen in the vicinity of the island; and have sometimes been killed in the roads by the south sea whalers. Turtle frequent the coast in the months of December and March, and are often taken by the fishing boats. Shell-fish are not uncommon, especially one spe cies resembling lobster ; and rock oysters are found in some situations in a solid mass, which may be separated into distinct The whole superficial extent of St Helena is calculated • at 30,000 acres, of which the greater part is a barren waste% About 8000 acres have been brought into cultivation ; and much more might be improved as pasture-ground; if wa ter were conveyed to it, which in many situations is perfect ly practicable. Of the cultivated portions, about 1500 acres are in the occupation of the governor, the lieutenant go vernor, and the Company; 4000, besides goat-ranges, have at different times been let in leases at a low rent, seldom exceeding 16s. per acre; and about 2300 have become free by original grants to settlers. In no country is farming a more profitable employment than at St Helena, when droughts and other causes do not occasion a failure in the crops. The richest lands produce three crops of potatoes in the year, amounting in all to 400 bushels per acre, which will sell at 8s. per bushel. The price of labour, however, is high. The wages of a carpenter are 6s. or 7s. a day; of a mason, 4s. or 5s.; of a common labourer 2s. or 2s. 6d. A black servant may be hired from 10/. to 201. per annum ; but must in addition be supplied with cloth ing, maintenance, and medical attendance in case of sick ness. The price of a slave of good character, and acquaint ed with husbandry work,.is 1501.; but others of inferior qualifications may be procured for 301. Even with all these expences of cultivation, the lands in general are estimated to yield a profit of seven or eight per cent. ; and, if wise ly improved, as supposed by Governor Beatson, to be capable of affording an inexhaustible supply of fresh pro visions and vegetables for the trade of the southern and eastern world. The use of the plough, drawn by oxen, so recently introduced by this officer, may tend to dimin ish the expences of the farmer ; but only 2000 acres are said to be capable of being tilled in this manner, of which not more than 68 have been brought under cultivation. As the roads are in general inaccessible to carts, particular ly in the inland districts, the produce of the farms in the country is carried on men's heads, occasioning a great waste of labour. Asses, however, have lately become an Object of attention, as suited for this service ; and their price has risen from 51. to 251. They are well adapted to the island, as they prefer those vegetables which the other animals refuse to eat.