In fact, situated as the island is, in a temperate climate just without the tropic, and enjoying abundance of rain, there is scarcely any vegetable, with the exception of a few of the equinoxial plants, that may not be cultivated here.

The zea maize, or Indian corn, would be infinitely useful both for themselves, their poultry, and their pigs.
As a great part of the island is at present covered with trees, which would necessarily give way to an extended cultivation, and as trees attract rain, Captain Waldegrave seems to think that when these are removed showers will be less frequent; but there is little fear of this being the case; the central ridge, with points that exceed eleven hundred feet in height, will more effectually attract and condense the clouds than any quantity of trees growing at a less elevation; and there can be little doubt that plenty of water will be found by digging at the foot of the hills or close to the sea-coast.
The climate appears to be unexceptionable.

During the sixteen days of December (the height of summer) that the _Blossom_ remained there, the range of the thermometer on the island, from nine in the morning till three in the afternoon, was from 76 deg.

to 80 deg.; on board ship from 74 deg.

to 76 deg.; from whence Captain Beechey places the mean temperature during that time at 76-1/2 deg..