Translation of an article in "Atlanten" written by Dr. phil. P. Börgesen.
In beautiful sunshine we started early in the morning for St. Peter near estate Magen's Bay. This estate, belonging to Land physician Mortensen is handsomely situated on the northern side of St. Thomas about 700 feet above Magen's Bay or the large Northside Bay. There is a beautiful view over the latter Hans Lollick, an island just north of St. Thomas, and towards east St. Jan, Tortola and the numerous surrounding little islands. St. Peter, the second point in height in St Thomas is about 1,500 feet above the sea level, therefore we were already half way up at Magen's Bay estate. The path runs up a hillside, partly in grass; now and again one meets bushes and small trees. Scattered all about are small cultivated plots where the negroes from town are growing different kinds of vegetables. At a further height of a couple hundred feet the vegetation changes its character, all perotile plants (those that prefer dryness) as cactus crotons etc. gradually disappear. The soil grows more moist, and the vegetation richer. Immense mango trees, silk cotton trees, mountain cabbages and manv other trees afford shade, and under these high trees is a rich carpet of ferns, mostly species of the polypodium tribe, often so dense that the earth is entirely covered. The path becomes moro and more impassable, the foot slips backward in the fat slippery clay.
At last the path stops entirely and is only marked by rich grass, nearly of man-height, through which one must wade. But the last part was the most difficult as we had to make our way through a close wildcruoss of trees and shrubs, in the deep shade of which ferns and aracea grew by thousands. At last we reached the summit, which is covered partly by fresh grass, partly by high copse. From here one gets a magnificent view of nearlv the whole island. Towards East are St. Jan, Tortola and surrounding islands; to the north is the North-side Bay with its beautiful, emerald water and white coral sand at the bottom of the bay; further out is the rounded summit of Hans Lollik; to the south St. Croix appears far off, and lasty to the west Culcbra, and furthest out the highland of Porto-Rico, and at our feet St. Thomas with her fresh green woods, from which a house now and again peeps out; only to South-West, Crown, the highest point of the Island stretches up about fifty feet higher aud hided the horizon to us. And all of this is surrounded by the endless blue ocean, which seen from here looks perfectly calm, while the white surf along the shores, shows us that such is not the ease.
On the top a negro from the town has planted a little garden of vegetables next to bananas, sweet potatoes and yam grew parsley, thyme, beets and cabbage.
On the trees, even on stones, grew numerous orchids, mostly Epidendron ciliare, but also different other soocies. It seems a wonder how these plants can get sufficient moisture in these dry places, but when one has seen how often showers fall up here, and how the summits are often entirely wrapt in mist, one understands better that they can live, and altogether the reason of all the rich vegetation.
One must naturally find it sad, that these fertile tracts of land are not being used. Many different cultivations might bo employed here, but probably mostly fruit-trees. I should think, that the land must be particularly suited to orange and lemons, of which St Thomas imports quantities from the other islands, to coffee, cocoa, bananas etc., perhaps an attempt might also bo made with the bay-tree. Tobacco ought also to thrive here. But one thing must be remembered, when cultivation is started: the clearing must be done with the greatest attention. The soil must not he laid open to the drying influence of sun and wind onlv just on that spot, that is to be planted, the most necessary clearing must take place; not until later, gradually as the plants grow up, attention must be paid to dear what may be considered necessary to give sufficient air and light to the plants. In this way the present vegetation might slowly be transformed into orange, coffee, cocoa or banana estates.
But if - as is often the case now - a crowd of negroes is let loose on the land to be cultivated and allowed to cut down everything, sun and wind would very likely in a short time dry out the soil to that extent that only grass could be grown. The condition of success for the cultivation must surelv be to keep the soil always protected against the drying power of sun and wind. The performance of such a work would surely be of the greatest importance to St. Thomas, where the general opinion seems to lie that the soil is only fit for pasture. This opinion seems to hold good on the large properties and stock raising is carried out successfully to a great extent for instance on the well managed property Tutu, belonging to Lawyer Jörgensen.
But it appears as if cotton might also give a good result on tracts of land suitable for this cultivation according to information received from Mr. Engborg, manager of estate Lövenlund, belonging to the local estate company. It is a great, pleasure to see the large areas which Air. Engborg has understood in less than a year to transform into blooming cotton fields that promise an abundant crop.
But we are still on the top of St. Peter, it is time for us to think of going home, and in order not to go back the same way we went down ths north-western side of the hill in a big curve. The road all the way led us through rich forest-land with innumerable ferns and aracea. We also passed some old ruins from the time of the sugar-cultivation, forgotten by the world like many others in the island. Here, where formerly life and activity reigned, everything was now as quiet as in the realm of tho sleeping beauty; only lively lizards were playing on the wall, and the bricksteps were covered with maiden-hair ferns, which need not fear to be trampled by rough feet; even gaily-coloured crotons were still growing in front of the house, showing the road that once led to the steps. Down through the fall trees peeped the sun giving life and colour to the scene, for it is just the colours in the tropics that are so wonderfully lovely that it takes a painter's brush to describc them.
About an hour later we were again at Magen's Bay, where a cocktail refreshed us after our successful excursion.
(Sanct Thomæ Tidende 5. maj 1906)
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