, 1874-12-16

OCCOCQ HNON AGOOlbCo , III AASV
the maintenance of the island at all as o
sugar-producing colony, is mainly due to
the introduction of the cattle plough, and
more recently Of the steam plough, the
deeper cultivation permitting a considera.
BILE portion of the little rain that falls
to be absorbed by the land.
It has been shown that in temperate
climates, such as Russia, France, and the
United States, where the solar heat is
moderate in ~fervour, and where long win
ters ensure a humid soil for many months
during each year, where the crops are
varied and the occupation of the inhabit.
ants is not confined to agriculture, the
conservation of forests is deemed of vital
Importance, and the efforts of the Govern
ments are directed to their protection and
extension.
In what respect does Antigua differ
from these countries2 1t is situated with
in the tropics. The sun is in the zenith
twice each year, and it is at no period
far from vertical at noon. 1t is entirely
devoted to the cultivation of o plant that
is in fact a reed, and that is moro DEEPEN
dant on the presence of abundant moisture
than any plant important to man, rice
alone excepted. It's conformation is such
that at best the supply of water may be
expected to be scanty, and its history
shews that frequent drought has been
its lot. There is perhaps no place on
the earth's surface where the art of en-
couraging the rainfall is more needful,
than in the island of Antigua.
Would it be a libel to assert that the
NorrDnc tho DlonforS ov1 thn GNvnyo-
ING bodies have We'd with each other in
the production of drought, and in hasten
ing the ruin Of the people and abandon
ment of the colony 2 The following
statements may help to decide.
The Negroes. 1t might be supposed
that the black population of this island
were O portion of the nation of Bechuanas,
described by Moffat, for the account of
them applies equally to the negroes of
Antigua. The practice of 'burning off
the bush" seems to be universal. Night
after night, fires are seen creeping up
the hill sides, in some places a line of
light, and in others a terrible fire rushing
rapidly along. These fires often extend
far beyond the limits designed, and not
unfrequently to considerable distances,
anu Ilduy d UldOhCHcu pdCCI VI UuIiG
canes marks the immediate penalty that
the negro has to pay for this barbarous
practice. If the ingenuity of man had
been taxed to find out the readiest
means of destroying the vegetation and
running the climate, it would have failed
to surpass that of placing a fre-brand
in the hands of the negro on the parched ISL
and of Antigua. Almost every tree in its
turn would be swathed in its sheet of flame,
but the negro, more Jealous apparently
for the ruin of the climate than for any
other work, and not content to allow the
trees to stand until the prairie fire reaches
them-has taken care to ignite q fire at
the root of almost every large tree he.
has access to, so that often a blackened
recess corrodes the base of the few trees left
standing. Thus the little wood becomes
still less, and even this must be laid un-
der contribution to furnish the fuel needed
for the negro, and for the various purposes
for which he needs a piece of wood. Let
us remember, however, that the negro
is poor is ignorant, and has little to do
with the framing, or the neglect to frame
the laws which should put down these