1839.] PRODUCTIONS. 101 



stiff and loamy. At Concepcion, in about 37° southern lati- 

 tude, the plains and valleys are decked with the brightest 

 and richest flowers, or clothed with the most luxuriant foli- 

 age ; while hills and mountains are wooded to their summits 

 with stately forest trees. In the latitude of Valparaiso, from 

 one hundred and fifty to two hundred miles further north, it 

 is only in the cultivation of the interval lands, that the hus- 

 bandman finds a recompense for his toil. At Coquimbo, the 

 sickly grass and stunted brushwood which alone redeem the 

 hills in the neighborhood of Valparaiso from the curse of bar- 

 renness, are no longer to be found, and, in their stead, are 

 seen only a short wiry grass, and a feeble apology for the 

 prickly-pear. At Guasco, vegetation entirely disappears ; the 

 country is diversified, indeed, with hill and plain, but all is 

 one vast and dreary Sahara, — the little rivulets, that cany 

 off the liquefied snows of the Andes, sing their lullaby in vain, 

 and their moisture is soon evaporated by the dry scorching 

 heat, that, vampire-like, robs the earth of nourishment and life. 

 Most of the hard woods abound in the forests of Chili ; and 

 laurels, myrtles, cypresses, and other evergreens, attain to 

 such a size that they are highly valuable and useful for their 

 timber. The mimosa farncsiana, and the algarob, are quite 

 common ; and the guillai, from the bark of which a natural 

 soap is made, is brought to the towns as an article of trade. 

 The palm and cinnamon tree were formerly met with in 

 abundance, but they are now rarely seen. Apricots, figs, 

 plums, pears and cherries, of large size and fine flavor, are 

 produced in great quantities. Herbaceous plants and flowers 

 are as various and abundant, as they are rich and beautiful. 

 The climate and soil of southern and middle Chili are pecu- 

 liarly well calculated for the culture of the cereal grains. 

 Wheat is the principal agricultural staple, and is largely ex- 

 ported from the central provinces. Barley is grown to a con- 

 siderable extent, in the south. Little attention is paid to the 

 culture of corn. All kinds of pulse and culinary vegetables 

 are raised, and potatoes are extensively produced.* The vine 



* The. potato is a native of South Chili. 



