92 Proceedint/s. 



and also, I believe, in Gran Canary, than in Teneriffe. The 

 Vines are planted in little terraces, but are allowed to grow 

 mostly at their own wild will. Plane trees are placed alter- 

 nately with Eucalyptus along the roads, and there are a few 

 Horse-chestnuts and Spanish ones in certain spots. Fig trees 

 also are abundant, so that even in this land of continual 

 summer a few fading and falling leaves may yet be seen. 

 Probably higher up in the interior, there may be more 

 deciduous trees ; my experience only extends to the lower 

 regions. Except one or two excellent roads, there are only 

 mule tracks to the less frequented parts of the island. The 

 celebrated Dragon tree I cannot attempt to describe, it is so 

 strange and weird, so unlike anything one has ever seen 

 before. There are many small specimens, but the special one 

 is at Icod, a picturesque little town along the coast, twenty 

 miles from Oratava. It is said to be a species of Asparagus, 

 but to the casual observer there is not the least resemblance. 

 It is said also to be 3000 years old, so that one looks at it 

 with intense respect, if not with admiration. The drive to Icod 

 is charming ; the sea on one side and the mountains and 

 ravines on the other make it almost like the Riviera ; there is 

 more water left to its natural flow, and not cramped into 

 narrow channels as elsewhere, for irrigation purposes, while 

 from underneath the rocks, where there is shade and moisture, 

 you may gather such armfuls of Maidenhair as even tho 

 Eiviera does not know. The fruits of this favoured region 

 are as abundant and perpetual as the flowers ; Bananas are 

 to be had all the year round, Oranges a great part of the year, 

 and in May, the time we were there, there were on the tables 

 beside these, fresh Figs and Dates, Loquats, Pears, and Cher- 

 ries. In June the Peaches, Nectarines, and Apricots are ripe, 

 and in July comes the vintage. Everything of course is earlier 

 than with us ; in April and May tons and tons of Potatoes, 

 also Tomatoes, are taken by every steamer to the London 

 markets, and the soil is so fertile, as well as growth so rapid, 

 that we were told five crops could be raised successively from 

 it in the same year. Nature seems always at work, and 

 never to retire for rest, or rather for work underground, as 



