, 1874-02-04

ture if it is planted with trees at a certain distance
with the view to procure the shade and moisture nee
cessary for the growth of grass in a tropical climate
and in order to form an always increasing layer of
fine mould which gradually forms itself under trees
from the decayed leaves, a thing thai is very much
wanted here in this island.
Every body who has observed tie difference be-
tween a piece OF grassland shaded by trees and dno-
Their without them will naturally wonder why the for
mer kind should be SO exceedingly rare in this
country.
Besides the two advantages already mentioned to
be derived from the planting of trees on uncultivated
land there is a third one of no less Importance than
the others and that would yield considerable direct
revenue to the landowner, liz; the planting Of fruit
and tjmber-trees.
Whilst on land intended for pasture it would be
preferable to plant Thlbet, Giant Thbet and similar
trees on account of their rapid growth and eatabIe
foliage, fruit-and timber trees may tie planted with
great success on all the rest Of the unculuvated land,
as there is no spot in the whole island from the sandy
sea-shore to the steepest rock, where not some tree or
the other will grow.
The cultivation of f~ruit-trees has been entirely neg
lected in St. Croix for the al-absording cultivation Of
cane and yet there can scarcely be any doubt that if
carried out in a proper way it would be more profta-
bic IN many instances to cultivate something else than
the sugar.cane.
However let the cane be cultivated wherever it
seems profitable to do SO, but let not tie soil that is
not thus employed be allowed to be entirely u~nproduc-
tive if not used for pasture, as has hitherto been the
common rule.
Fruit trees may become a source of no small
income on many estates, besides their indirect
usefulness with regard to increasing the moisture
of the soil, and among those likely to pay best
and within the shortest time must be mentioned
the coffee-tree.
This hardy and willing tree, that already grows
spontaneously in a so to say wild state on many
places, especially OH the north side of the island.
as for instance at Canebay, Prosperity etc, l
would recommend to be cultivated on the whole
high range of hills stretching from Salt River to
Hams Bluff and every other similar locality,
where there are some trees left to protect the
young trees from the s%corching sun.
After the third year the Coffee-tree will give a
revenue per acre far greater than the sugar cane
can ever yield in this island. \ The little coffee,
that is now produced here is well known to be of
a peculiar fine sort and of exquisite favour. Be-
sides, coffee cultivation requires scarcely any la
bour and no other capital but the ground, and
coffee is not likely to find a substitute in any other
plant as the sugar cane has, because unlike the
saccharino matter, cotfein is not generally difused
through the vegetable kingdom.
Among the timber-trees, that will grow readily
on the sea-shore may be mentioned tho most valu.
able lignUm.v vitae (GuajacumC which formerly
was abundant in the island but which now has
become very scarce, in fact, as yet | have found
only two trees of this kind in the whole island.
Gregory and lockwood likewise are natives of
the shore whilst Locust and several other hard
wood-trees prefer rocky soil.
Thus it will be evident, that the advantages TO
be derived from the preservation and planting of
trees besides the general establishment of the
country, which however as being OF little persua-
siye value where pccuniary interest is involved
we will pass over lightly, may be said to be three
fold, viz:
y The increase and preservation of moisture,
. The formation of proper pasture and suisse
quontly arabic land by tho formation of
mould, and
- The direct income from fruit-and timber
trees as well as wood and coal.
These considerations would seem to me as being
sufficient to induce every owner of land to plant
all his uncultivated ground with trees either for
pasture or other purposes and besides taking care
of his own interest benefit the whole community,
like in those eastern countries, whore that man is
considered the greatest b~enefactor to the country
who plants the greatest quantity of trees.
As former generations up to this time have act
ed contrary to the laws of Nature in this respect,
we will have either to make up fortheir errors or
to suffer for them, as it is not very likely that those
laws will be altered entirely so as to suit the i'm
prudence or wastefullness Eof man. | would here
beg leave to add a few words on the way in which
trees are to be planted in this island.
Many persons seem to be under the impression
that it is a rather difficult thing to transplant
trees successfully and that most of the trees trans
planted must be expected to die off.
This | think is an erroneous idea and | would
be rather inclined to assert that if managed in the
rOOor WOW II = a aoSu f. e~I