Naturalization of the Cochineal Insect in Spain. 327 



riches which no other country in Europe possesses, and pro- 

 bably never will possess. 



" Dr Presas has not only shown an intimate knowledge of 

 natural history, by the publication of his Memoir, but also his 

 patriotism, by the zeal and activity with which he himself has 

 superintended an experiment, already productive of a liberal 

 harvest." 



Having been many times at Malaga at different seasons, I 

 have it in my power to bring forward some facts which will 

 prove to the Academy, that it is not without reason this emi- 

 nent Spanish botanist considers the acclimation of so precious 

 an insect to be permanently secured in his own country. The 

 temperature of Malaga is one of the most uniform in Spain. 

 Frost is unknown. The thermometer never falls, under any 

 circumstances, below eight degrees of Reaumur. The sugar- 

 cane is cultivated in the open air, as well as the cotton-plant, 

 from which large revenues have been derived during the last 

 fifteen years. I have seen the Schi?ius Molle (the Peruvian 

 mastic-tree) produce its fruit, and the custard apple and plan- 

 tain trees ripen theirs everywhere without protection. There 

 are few plants of the Flora Atlantica of Desfontaines that I 

 have not found there, and Cactus covers naturally all the mari- 

 time rocks. The quantity of the latter plant is so consider- 

 able, that trouble was never taken to cultivate it, though the 

 fruit under the common name of Figues de Thunas, was, dur- 

 ing its season, the principal support of a large proportion of 

 the poor population. It is the employment of women and 

 children to gather it and convey it to the market. If we con- 

 sider that it scarcely ever rains in Malaga, and never at the 

 period when moisture would be injurious to the cochineal, it is 

 clear that no country could be better chosen to rival Mexico 

 in this production. Another proof of the favourable nature 

 of climate is, that my friend M. Zea and myself planted cof- 

 fee-trees in the open ground, and sowed a bed of the Indigo- 

 fera Anil, which passed two winters without injury, and was 

 in abundant fructification when we left the place. — Annates 

 des Sciences Naturelles. 



