200 
greater, and in some districts, is much less than that of the 
summer months in the latitude of London; and those of the 
coast of Peru have an additional recommendation as regards 
their culture with us, that they very seldom see the sun. 
In illustration of this, I may mention that Palavia rhombifolia 
and Loasa hispida, which inhabit the low country near 
Lima, succeeded perfectly in the open air at the garden of 
the Horticultural Society, during the wet and boisterous 
summer of the present year, 1830. It is true, that in the 
mountains of Peru, the plants are in flower during those 
months when the sun has most power; but there the altitude 
compensates in a great measure the difference of season. 
In cultivating Chilian and Peruvian plants, the climate 
and progress of vegetation on the coast of the middle 
provinces of Chili may serve as a guide for their treatment, 
and it may be as well to take a short review of the leading 
phenomena. The rainy season, as already mentioned, begins 
in May, and continues till October; the heaviest rains are 
in June and July. After a few days of rain, there is an 
interval of fine weather for at least one or two weeks, and 
the quantity that falls during the season is small, varying 
from twelve to sixteen inches. In summer, the atmosphere 
is excessively arid, and there is little or no dew. The 
temperature at noon in the middle of the rainy season is 
generally about 60°; at night, seldom under 40°, though 
there is occasionally a little frost. In summer, the thermo- 
meter at noon stands between 70° and 75°; but during the 
night, in clear weather, it frequently falls more than 20". 
During the latter part of summer, vegetation is almost — 
dormant, and scarcely a plant of any kind is to be seen in- 
flower ; but ina very few weeks after the first rains, every 
part of the country is clothed with verdure. By the end of | 
July many plants are in bloom, and a rapid succession 
of species continue to put forth their blossoms for several 
months, and the hills are adorned with many beautiful 
species of Alstrarmeria, Calceolaria, Tropaolum, Amaryllis, Sehi- 
BINUS, Sisyrinchium, and other interesting gener? 
d. of November, few of these remain in flower- 
