I 



THE VALLEY OF THE RIO MALACATOS 

 _ This small valley of southern Ecuador, along with others in the same general region, is the 

 native home of the cherimoya. The valley floor lies at an elevation of about 5,000 feet above 

 the sea; the mountams on either side reach up to 8,000 or 10,000 feet. The climate is dry and 

 moderately warm, the soil mainly clay, with alluvium along the river and in the ravines which 

 lead down from the adjacent slopes. On this alluvial soil, and occasionally on the clay slopes 

 are many wild cherimoya trees, scattered or in small groves. (Fig. 17.) 



