Polynesian., 1859-10-29

Mr. President Having received from DIR. Hill
lebrand the Corresponding Secretary of the Society,
the order to prepare report in ref renee to the So
cietys garden under my efarge, obey with that
diffidence which is the result of q conscious
ness of my poor abilities, and beg leave to premise
nv statements with the humble request to show
that leniency to my composition which ought to be
given to one who is capable for the work of the
hoe and still heavier plow, than that of the light
pen and subtitle thought.
entered on March 4, 1858, upon my duties as
gardener of the Society. The land destined as the
field of my operations presented rather dscourag-
ing aspect Although the soil is perhaps as good
as any on the island, and the general face of the
ground would leave to the gardener scarcely any
thing to wish to make the garden one of the most
beautiful and picturesque spots to be found here,
nevertheless the jungle of most luxurant indigo,
which covered the land, interspersed with kalo
patches the many quagmires made by the overflow
ing and drainage of the adjoining and higher kalo
lands the vast number of large rocks which lay in
every direction strewn over the ground, the walls
either broken down entirely wanting, making the
land a common for all the rambling horses Of the
neighborhood-al this changed the gentler occupa-
ton of the gardener into the aborous and rougher
toll of the western frontiersman.
The first two months, with force Of from one to
two Cinnamon, were consumed in cutting down the
indigo blasting and hauling the rocks and stones,
cutting drains etc. On May 18th, or over eighteen
months ago. the first plow was started, and since
then have gone on laying out the grounds, accord
ing to the plan approved by the Committee, planting
and keeping the laid out grounds in order, and
whenever the very fast-growing weeds gave me
little respite from hoeing, taking new ground into
cultivation building and mending stone walls, cut
ting water-courses, building terraces, etc. At the
present day all the land has been under the plow,
with the exception of part of the steep hill side and
half of the low kalo land. hope that may plead
as an excuse for not being the full completion
of nv task the want of help and the perversity of
the weather. As regards the first wish to state
that nv regular hired help consisted during the first
six months of two Cinnamon, whom, in November
last exchanged for two native boys, sixteen and
seventeen wears of age Besides these two monthly
laborers have expended for day laborers on av-
erage of from eight to nine dollars per month, at
the rate of fifty cents per day,
In regard to the perversity of the weather would
state that the past year throughout exceed
ingly wet one, much so as the present has been
exceedingly dry. From May 18th, the day when
commenced plowing. till January l6, 1852 we had
III rainy days about one wet day for every fair
one The rain and constant wet state of the ground
presented great obstacles to the killing Of the weeds
and the work of the plow and harrow, although it
was higy favorable to plant the ground as soon as
prepared. This year it is the reverse Most of the
ground has been for months put in good order and
has been laid out, but the unfavorabeness Of the
weather prevents me from planting.
The walls surrounding the land are in such order
as to keep out stray animals, but they sometimes
enter through the usual neglect of the natives in
closing the bars. when travelling the public road
which leads through the land. Although must
confess that this public road has been to con-
slant of extreme annoyance. because serves
the native sportsmen, on account of its winding
course, excellent race-course by which not
only the borders of my lots, but young plants
are continually destroyed, have, nevertheless,
since the society, who naturally feel Of these
yexations, and who perhaps find the thoroughfare a
desirable appendix TO the garden in giving kind of
picturesque life to the scenery, when fast riding
men, and the women in their flowing habits, with
occasionally few fat hogs driven to and fro pass
through the shading groves-I say have schooled
myself to partially repair to-day what destroy
ed yesterday. There is one circumstance, however,
to which 1 would call your attention-the shrub
berry is becoming every day higher and denser, and
IN a short time will completely hide some of the
curves of the road, and shall not wonder if one
of these days harm befal a lady or child walking
through the grounds by some needless rider 1t al
so happens, that rider coming from town at night
not only leaves the entrance open but, out of love d
mischief, amuses himself by traversing the grounds
from right to left. As there is no police within
miles am perfectly powerless to stop those excess
es and would respectfully reiterate former recon-
mendaton-that some one near the garden might
be empowered to arrest such offenders.
1t is superuous for one to say anything about the
variety of plants, their thriving and appearance
of the amount of labor expended in the garden dur
ing the last 20 months. The garden is public one;
every one NAV Judge for himself how things grow,
and the labor Of necessity, must be judged BY the
result. e
In regard to expenses, i would leg to say that il
always has been my earnest study curtail them as
much az possible, and advance slowly, but surely
without incurring heavier expenses than necessity
required.
As already before remarked, my regular force con-
siss Of but two aborers hired by the month at twelve
dollars, with occasionally extra hand, when too
hard uh.o1 hx~x ada QYvha