rance, but when
the ear was shot and nearly filled, some heavy rains in September
laid a great part of it down, and the quantity destroyed by the
rats and quails was almost incredible: there was every prospect
of getting at least fifty bushels of grain, but the whole
quantity, when gleaned, yielded only ten bushels. The barley was
very fine, and 116 ears were produced from one grain. Garden
vegetables throve very well, and cabbages were cut weighing
twenty-six pounds each. I have no doubt but potatoes would thrive
very well here; unfortunately, we had only two sets on the
island, which were brought by the Golden Grove. Most of the
marines and convicts had now very good gardens, but the grub-worm
was a great and perpetual enemy to their vegetables.

It has already been observed, that 260 plants of wheat were
transplanted the beginning of June; these were threshed on the
15th, and the produce was three quarts of a very fine full
grain.

The weather often was very favourable for landing in
Sydney-Bay, and the boat was frequently sent out; but the surf
often rose presently afterwards which made it dangerous for her
to come on shore, so that she was obliged to go to Ball Bay, and
men were sent from the settlement to haul her up, which
occasioned a great loss of time: I therefore resolved to send Mr.
Altree, who was a very trusty young man, a gardener, and one
convict, together with three women to remain there, as they would
not only cultivate the ground in the valley, but would, at all
times, be ready to assist in hauling the boat up.

This party went to Ball-Bay on the 18th, where they found
landing as fine as could be wished, though the surf ran very high
in Sydney-Bay; the wind being at south, and blowing hard.

Some wheat was reaped on the 22d, which had been sown on the
11th of August: the grain was very full and fine, but as it was
sown late the stock was not so fine as might have been
expected.

The 25th, being Christmas-day, it was observed as a holyday.
The colours were hoisted at sun-rise: I performed divine service;
the officers dined with me, and I gave each of the convicts half
a pint of rum, and double allowance of beef, to celebrate the
festival: the evening concluded with bonfires, which consisted of
large piles of wood, that had been previously collected for the
occasion. Spring-tides were now at the height, and I sent every
person on the 26th to Ball-Bay to make the cut deeper, and to
clear away s