Appendix. 399 
its extraordinary restorative and prophylactic qualities 
recommend it to be used by seamen who are exposed to the 
hardships of all climates, ‘and by soldiers who are obliged 
to hazard themselves in all sorts of expeditions. 
The Coca isa shrub of middling size, growing on the An- 
_ des. It belongs to the class Decanpria, and order Diey- 
nia. Its botanical name is Erythrorylon Peruvianum, or 
Peruvian red-wood. The leaves are eliptical with short 
footstalks, alternate, entire, smooth and shining, three-nerv- 
ed, with the two lateral nerves less observable than the 
middle one. 
The Coca sectebttaterd in dorsum tracts adjoining the mouns 
tains, and blossoms in May and June. It grows best in the 
strong, moist soils of hot climates. Therefore it is most 
congenial to the valleys. The seeds are planted during the 
moist and rainy season, to wit, in December and January. 
When grown to the height of a foot and a half, they are 
transplanted into the grounds prepared to receive them. 
he shrub lives many years, and in favourable situations, 
the leaves may be picked, three times in twelve months. 
This plant had acquired = = in the time of the 
Incas, before the i the. holy ° iards. Ve smoke of 
the leaves was incense offered tothe on the 
se tial nn 0 
A lete ae detailed ietory. of the Coes,’ was 
published in in that highly noes work, the Peruvian 
botanica 
**FO-C) 
Several communications came 
ced in our next. capers he 
mistaid ; ‘they are, however, either obvions orn rte Editor) 
piers, 
ke 
