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In the winter there are sudden rushes of water following heavy 
rains im the mountains, but the barranco is dry for the greater part 
e year. In the dry bed of the winter torrent the following 
plants occur abundantly : tufted-leaved Euphorbias and Kleinias, 
the white-flowered Hupatorium adenophorum, so common in Madeira, 
Rumex Lunaria, a large-leaved Hypericum, a Micromeria and the 
common tropical weed, Bidens pilosa. A good deal of the bottom 
of the barranco had formerly been under cultivation, and Was now 
overrun with a yellow-flowered crucifer, Hirschfeldia adpressa, 
The first specimens of Pinus canariensis were seen in the middle 
part of the barranco, where they descend much nearer the sea than 
on the ridges. In former times the pines probably extended in 
many places down to the coast. A small prickly-fruited umbellifer 
was very abundant on flat ground above the dry bed of the torrent. 
We ascended the steep southern slope of the barranco, and 
returned to the town by the high ground. A pretty much-branched 
Sempervivum grew on the slope. It had white flowers with pink 
carpels, and a strong smell of honey. 
Two days, June 2nd and 3rd, were spent in exploring the lovely 
Barranco del Rio, which runs into the mountains to the west of the 
town. On the way we passed the Alameda, a rectangular promenade 
surrounded by a wall, and shaded by about 30 trees of Ficus nitida 
in four rows, and a few Casuarinas at the far end. Some of the fig 
trees were blown down in a storm a few years ago and broke down 
a large part of the wall. 
Just past the Alameda is a stone ship, which is rigged in April 
every fifth year, on the occasion of the festival of the Virgen de 
as Nieves. The church of that name is situated about one hour’s 
walk up the barranco, and contains an ancient and much venerated 
image which is carried down to the town in procession during the 
festival. The altar is overlaid with beaten silver work, among the 
subjects represented on the panels being a palm, a pine tree, an 
olive-tree, a banana plant, a tower and a fountain. 
The last house passed before entering the Barranco del Rio is 
situated at about 1000 ft. above sea-level on the ridge to the north, 
and belongs to Sefor Antonio Lopez Anca, who received us very 
kindly, and made arrangements for a guide to accompany us on the 
secon ; 
Sefior Anca cultivates a certain amount of coffee for which he 
obtains 2 pesetas (about 1s. 6d.) per Ib., whilst Venezuelan coffee 
realises only 1} pesetas in the island. : 
The path follows a small aqueduct which has been built along the 
steep and sometimes precipitous side of the ravine, and one has to 
walk on the small outer wall, which in places is only 1 ft. wide. 
The Barranco del Rio is much moister than the Barranco del 
Carmen, and the vegetation is very luxuriant. The Canary pine is 
extremely abundant and extends in places from top to bottom of 
the slopes. The precipitous rock-faces bear a characteristic asso- 
ciation composed largely of Sempervivum, and including arborescent 
Sonchi, Cinerarias and other Compositae, Phyllis Nobla, Sisymbrium 
millefolium and a small-flowere CUTE 
In the per situations there was a great deal of a pale magenta 
Cineraria which had been much eaten by goats, By the side of the 
