owing to lack of knowledge and experience in tropical cultivation. Those which have been successful have been in a measure lost to the community for want of a common centre of communication such as now exists in this society. Instead of recording the results of experiments each one has contented himself with communicating to his immediate circle of friends, or an occasional visiter, such results to be improved by a few or forgotten altogether. Our present course will be to compare together the experience of all, and thence derive principles which may be of use to all.

Being absent I can only communicate the results of my own experiments, and observations on a few such objects as come within the range of my department. In so doing I wish to be understood in most cases as suggesting what may be fact, than as stating positive fact, the experience of one being insufficient in my opinion to decide upon such facts. I will proceed, without much order, to enumerate and remark.

THE FIG TREE.-There are at the islands four varieties of this tree, viz-the Bush fig, the Tree fig, the Turkey fig, and the China fig. So far as I know, they all bear well. In some places they do not shed their leayes with sufficient uniformity to produce a full crop at once. They may therefore in those places be made to bear at different times by stripping off their leaves at different times. It is only however du ring their proper season of bearing that they will produce good fruit, but they may no doubt be made to bear through the season by proper management. But where the leaves all fall at once it would be difficult to vary the season of bearing.

They require a rich soil and should be watered frequently in dry places. Their roots are very branching and will soon exhaust a soil in their vicinity, consequently very little else can be raised near them. The roots will often be found diseased or injured by insects, and it is a desideratum to find a remedy. I would remark, however, that this is not the case where they are frequently flooded with water. The same remark applies to the peach tree. The bush fig bears small insipid fruit and is only valuable for being in season after the season of the tree fig is over. Of the merits of the China fig, or its fruit, I know nothing. I should consider the Turkey fig as the most valuable of all kinds, as the fig is large and abundant, while the stock itself is pro

portionally very small,-a mere shrub-whereas the tree fig is smaller and grows on a large tree which makes heavy drafts on the soil.

Of the flavor of the Turkey fig I am not sufficiently acquainted to judge.

The fig is easily propagated by cuttings in the months of January and February.

THE GUAVA. This tree is valuable not only for the abundance and usefulness of its fruit, but it affords excellent fuel. It is easily raised from the seed, and will grow in almost any soil with proper care, but the richer the soil the greater the quantity of fruit it will produce.

There are many varieties of guavas, the principal of which are, the sour guava, the sweet white guava, and the red-fleshed guava. The last is most common, and the best, if but one can be had. It grows on a mere shrub, while the white guava grows on a tree in some situations 40 or 50 feet high. The fruit of the latter has a mawkish taste, but the hybrid produced between this and the sour guava is delicious, being about the right temper.

The production of these hybrids should command more attention than it has received, as it is easily managed, and we have all desirable extremes to commence with, as the sweet is very sweet, and the sour is very sour. Their rich foliage render them a not undesirable inmate of the garden or pleasure grounds, and with proper culture the value of the fruit would be greatly increased.

THE MANDRAKE.-This is often called a guava, and perhaps not improperly so, as tree, flower, leaf and fruit partake of the general character of the guava. But in beauty this tree far exceeds the guava, which is low and weak, with branching limbs, whereas the mandrake towers aloft with upright branches, and its dense foliage is a bright glossy green. It is not easily propagated, as the seeds will not often germinate unless they are kept at a uniform moisture in a very loose soil, near the surface.

But I am persuaded that when this tree is better known very many of the trees now cultivated for ornament will be dispensed with, for in addition to its fine shade and appearance, the mandrake bears an abundance of most delicious fruit, than which none produce a finer jelly. This tree might no doubt be made to produce a valuable hybrid with the guava. It appears to do best in a moist situation.

The Orange, LEMON, CITRON, LIME, &c.-Having little experience in the culture of these trees I can only say of them that, at the islands they all require shade, else they are soon covered with lichen, and either perish or cease to thrive. With much pains taking this may be washed off with soap and water, and they will thrive. But either a cloudy situation, or the vicinity of a mountain or high rock, or the shade of a tree seems necessary to their prosperity.

It is said they are a native of the forests of Persia rather growing in the shade of other trees than forming one of their own.

THE COCOANUT.-What I would say of this tree must have suggested itself to every one, viz :—why is it not more abundant at these islands, as it grows freely where little else valuable will grow, and is so very useful? What a vast amount of fencing stuff it would furnish. Every part of the tree seems to be useful. And I need not add how greatly it would improve the sandy plains along the sea shore if they were covered over with this tree.

THE MANGO. Of this tree I know little, but have been told that it requires a moist situation well sheltered from the wind, and an abundance of vegetable matter in the soil.

CUSTARD APPLE OR CHIRIMOYA.-This most delicious fruit can be raised successfully, by a plentiful application of ashes and coal dust, with a portion of other manures. Ashes seem essential to its growth

and the production of its fruit. It grows freely from the seed.

THE TAMARIND.-This will grow in almost any situation and is always a beautiful tree. It does not always bear fruit, but in certain locations it bears abundantly. What those peculiar locations are I am not certain, but I have seen it loaded with fruit in a sandy plain near the sea, and in a dry warm situation inland. It was irrigated in the latter situation. The wood is tough, and would probably be valuable as timber, certainly it would for fuel.

ORIENTAL LILAC OR PRIDE OF INDIA.-There are two varieties of this beautiful tree at the islands. One grows to a very majestic tree, and is long lived, the other is but a small tree or shrub, and is very short-lived. They bear abundance of seeds from which it may easily be propagated, and in addition to their beautiful foliage, will furnish abundance of fuel, and perhaps the large tree may be valuable as timber.

They are of very rapid growth, but are ill-shaped where they are exposed to the wind. They yield a gum which may be substituted for gum Arabic, though it is somewhat bitter.

It is, perhaps,

THE PEACH.-Contrary to some of our pre-conceived ideas, it ap pears that this tree will flourish along with the orange, pomegranate, fig, and even in those hotter regions where only spices grow in perfection. The tree seems to grow with great vigor here in various situations. Unfortunately it is very difficult to raise it from the seed, and that is no doubt the reason why it is not more plenty. not generally known that it grows freely from the slip. which I made with budding succeeded admirably. grown here is a very meagre one, and it is very desirable that the finer kinds be introduced, and that the lovers of this delicious fruit be no longer debarred the enjoyment of what I am persuaded may be raised here in the highest perfection.

An experiment The kind now

As above stated, the tree can be entirely protected from the ravages of the borer by growing it where it can be frequently flooded.

The various species of Acacia and Mimosa grow freely, and in addition to their ornamental qualities produce good fuel.

Two species of Agati grow freely from seed and produce abundance of large showy flowers but are short lived.

APPLE TREES will grow, but it requires further experiment on some of our mountains, to decide whether they will produce fruit. The same is true of the QUINCE.

Whether PLUM AND CHERRY trees have yet been grown I am not able to say, but hope the day is not distant when a fair experiment will be made.

Of native forest trees I am not able to say much. Some of them may be raised in proper situations with great ease, and are beautiful trees. Large tracts now lying waste may be speedily covered with forests by being protected from fires and cattle.

But I must close. I had intended to say much more, but want of time renders it impossible.

What I have written has been done in great haste, but I hope the will may be taken for the deed.

Very truly yours,

E. BAILEY.

REPORT ON DOMESTIC PRODUCTS.

BY CHARLES R. BISHOP.

STEPHEN REYNOLDS, ESQ.,

Honolulu, August 9th, 1851.

Chairman of the committee on Domestic Produce. DEAR SIR.-As the time for the annual meeting of the "Royal Hawaiian Agricultural Society" has nearly arrived, and as it is my duty, as one of the committee above named, to place in your hands what facts I have relating to the domestic produce of the islands, I beg leave to send herewith, a table of domestic exports as cargo, for one year, commencing July 1st, 1850, made up from the outward manifests and the reports of the collectors of customs at the various ports (except Kawaihae). Probably the table is not entirely correct, but it is as nearly so as I am able to make it, from the data in my possession ? and it will serve as a basis of comparison for the future. I enclose also a copy of the "Polynesian,"* which contains a table of exports for the year 1850.

I am unable to state what amount or value of produce has been furnished to ships, as supplies, though it must be about the same as last year, as the number of vessels which have visited the two principal ports, (Honolulu and Lahaina) during the first half of this year, is about the same as during the same period last year.

You are aware of course, that of the principal products of the islands, there is more consumed than is raised upon the island of Oahu. The accompanying tables, &c, are most respectfully submitted, with the hope, that the other members of the committee will furnish you with much more valuable and interesting facts.

Very Respectfully,

• See Polynesian, February 1, 1851.

Your obd't servant,

CHAS. R. BISHOP.