FL14425361

Eimeo April 10th 1816

My esteemed friend,
Amidst much hurry and confusion of people etc
I sit down for a few minutes that I may thank you for your
letter and kind present of various seed. I have divided them
among the Brethren, but have not myself planted ? as
yet for this season has been uncommonly wet, most of my own
garden being for many weeks under water and intervals of dry
weather being few, and [?], few things could live, however this
and the next month, I think, will be most favourable to make some
experiments of the Siberian Barley, which if a native of these
frozen regions, yet may not withstanding, possibly prosper in [?] warm
climate. I have thought of trying some of it in one of the native
plantions up the Valley, and at the bottom of the hills, where there
is mixture of Clay with the Common light and Sandy soul.
Sometime ago, I planted some Rice, it grew, but for want of
more water, it withered before it produced any seed. With these
many European rodents here, different European grains
might no doubt be cultivated among the hills; yet it is a question
wich of them require much more labour and trouble, than the
native productions of Bread Fruit, Taro, yams, ?
whatsoever Europeans could ever Cultivate any of them on a
large scale. An Acre of ground planted with Taro, is in my
view, far preferable to one planted with Rice, or Maize,
It contains a great deal more sustenance for human life, and
satisfies ? no proportion. Wheat might be
cultivated here, but rather as a luxury than anything else.