72 BOTANY OF THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. HERALD. 
waves its large panicles in the air, the foot is involuntarily arrested, and one gazes for 
some time lost in wonder and admii-ation. There is also a number of plants wliich exhale 
a deUcious perfume ; a long Hst of them could be cited, but it may suffice to enumerate 
the Flor de Aroma {Acacia Farnesiana, Willd.), Buenas tardea {Mirabilis Jalapa, Linn.), 
the different Caracuchas {Plurnieria sp. pL), Cqpecillo olorosa {Clusia sp.), Bama de node 
{Cestrum pankidatum, Willd.), Guavito cansahoca {FitliecoloUum), Jasmin de monte {Ta- 
heriimmontana alba, ^lill.), Norbo {Passiflora hiflora, Lam.), and Manglillo {Ternstrcemia 
hrevipeSj DC). 
In such a country, where nature has supplied nearly every want of life, and where the 
consumption of a limited population is little felt, agriculture, deprived of its proper stimulus, 
cannot make much progress. It is, therefore, in the Isthmus, in the most primitive state : 
our first parents hardly could have carried it on more rudely. A spade is a curiosity, the 
plough has never been heard of, and the only implements used for converting forests into 
fields are the axe and the machete (or chopping-knife). A piece of ground intended for 
cultivation is selected in the forests, cleared of the trees by felling and burning them, and 
smToundcd ^^'ith a fence. In the beginning of the wet season the field is set with plants 
by simply making a hole with the machete, and placing the seed or root in it. The extreme 
heat and moisture soon call them into activity, the fertility of a virgin soil affords them 
ample nom'ishmcnt, and without the further aid of man a rich harvest is produced. The 
same ground is occupied two or three years in succession ; after that time the soil is so hard 
and the old stumps have thriven with so much energy, that a new spot has to be chosen. 
In most countries this mode of cultivation would be impossible to practise; but in New 
Granada all the unoccupied land is common property, of which anybody may appropriate as 
much as he pleases, provided he encloses it either artificially or by taking advantage of rivers, 
the sea, or mountains. As long as the land is enclosed it remains in his possession ; when- 
ever the fence is decayed the land again becomes the property of the repubHc. Colonial 
produce, such as sugar, coffee, cacao, tamarinds, etc., which require more attention than the 
inhabitants are wont to bestow, are merely raised for home consumption ; and although the 
provincial government has tried to encourage this branch of industry by offering premiums 
for growing a certain number of plants, and the soil and climate are favourable, yet none, 
except a fcAv enterprising foreigners, have taken a prominent part in the cultivation ; and 
there is reason to believe that while the country remains so thinly populated as at present, 
the high price of labour, consequent on such a state of society, will be a lasting im- 
pediment to the estabUshing of plantations on a large scale. The cerealia grown are Rice 
^nd Indian Corn. The former was introduced by the Spaniards ; the latter was known 
before the conquest to the Aborigines, who raised it extensively, and used to prepare from 
it their bread, and cJiichai a kind of beer. Some successful experiments with AYheat 
have been made on the moimtains of Veraguas, which will doubtless lead to an extensive 
cultivation of that grain. Of dessert fruit probably no country can exhibit a greater 
