4IO Voyage of the Novara. 



unsettled or altogether unexamined, and wliicli were of such 

 deep import to the attempts being made in Java to cultivate 



steps of any one of my more earnest readers to Peru, he may succeed by his own ob- 

 servation in solving these questions, my inability to aid more effectively in which has 

 been to me a source of deep mortification. The learned naturaUst of Java furnished 

 me with the following particulars : — 



" What it behoves us especially to ascertain, respecting which Hasakael has ob- 

 served nothing, and Weddell furnishes no accurate information, is comprised in 

 the following questions : 



1. What are the highest and lowest limits of the Cinchona Calisaya, or at all events, 

 what is the altitude of the region in which it most abounds ? 



2. What is the unvarying warmth of the soil, as observed at a depth of 5 feet be- 

 low the sm-face ? 



3. On what soil does it grow most abundantly and luxuriantly ? Does it affect 

 rich black mould, in moist forcing soils, or rather dry, stony, barren soils ? 

 Does it gi'ow on steep acclivities, or does it seem to prefer gentle slopes or level 

 ground ? Can specimens of the soil be procured ? What is the description of 

 the rock formation, trachytic, granitic, or gneiss, or are slate or sandstone the cha- 

 racteristic formations ? 



4. What are the general meteorological conditions, and what is the annual amount 

 of rain-fall ? For how many and during what months does it rain, and during 

 what period of the day are the showers heaviest ? Does it rain for months at a 

 time, and for how many, and during what months ? Or does it not rain at all, 

 in which case is its place supphed by regular afternoon storms ? How many 

 days of rain are there in the rainy season of that particular region of the tropical 

 zone ? Are the nights and forenoons, as in Java, usually clear until noon ? Is 

 it known whether observations have ever been made by the Spanish Creoles as 

 to the amount and duration of the rain-fall ? A correct knowledge of the 

 amount of moisture and rain-fall of the Cahsaya district is of special import- 

 ance to all engaged in the cultivation of that plant. Further, frequent observa- 

 tions must be made with the psychrometer in the morning before sunrise, 

 between nine and ten o'clock, at the hour of maximum of temperature, and in 

 the evening, in the forest and in the open ground, that these may afterwards be 

 compared with mine in Java. 



5. Does the Calisaya prefer the deepest shadows of the forest, does it grow there 

 quite apart from other trees, or is it more frequently found in the open spaces 

 where it is warmed by the sun's rays, such places being usually rather clear of 

 trees ? Does it grow solitary, or is it found in groups or clusters, and are its 

 special peculiarities in this respect observable in every forest? Is it observed to 



