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 in a 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 ofAlsfrcemeria, Calceolaria, TropcBolum, Amaryllis, Schi- 

 zanthiis, Oxalis, Sisyrinchium, and other interesting genera. 

 After the end of November, few of these remain in flower. 



