This had been a great disappointment, as much difficulty lay in procuring the necessary item.
Had the natural pasturage been good, it would soon have been an easy matter to procure any amount of manure by a corresponding number of cattle; but, as it happened, the natural pasturage was so bad that no beast could thrive upon it.

Thus everything, even grass-land, had to be manured; and, fortunately, a cargo of guano having arrived in the island, we were enabled to lay down some good clover and seeds.
The original idea of cultivation, driving the forests from the neighborhood of Newera Ellia, was therefore dispelled.

Every acre of land must be manured, and upon a large scale at Newera Ellia that is impossible.

With manure everything will thrive to perfection with the exception of wheat.

There is neither lime nor magnesia in the soil.
An abundance of silica throws a good crop of straw, but the grain is wanting: Indian corn will not form grain from the same cause.