in Colombia between the Years 1820 a7id 1830. 101 



duclng in the market a dollar per cwt. That of Esmeraldas, 

 on the contrary, where notwithstanding the moisture of the 

 climate the waters never settle on the soil, is of equal or su- 

 perior quality to that of the valley of Tuy near Caracas. In 

 Canigue, at an elevation of about 1000 feet, the trees are 

 loaded with fruit in less than two years from the time of sow- 

 ing the seed ; while generally three years is the period at 

 which they are reckoned to commence bearing. 



Coffee is abundantly raised from the level of the sea to 

 elevations of 5000 or 6000 feet, or even higher in favourable 

 situations. There are plantations near the valley of Banos 

 in Quito at above 7000 feet. 



Cotton requires, according to Humboldt, a mean tempera- 

 ture of not less than 61° — 60^, which would bring it to die ele- 

 vation of Loxa. 



The sugar cane is cultivated in Colombia from the level of 

 the sea to an elevation, which may appear extraordinary, of 

 7865 feet in the valley of Banos at the foot of Tunguragua, 

 of 8500 in the valley of Chillo below Quito, and of nearly 

 9000 feet near the town of Hambato. It must be observed, 

 however, with respect to the latter, that the vegas or nooks 

 formed by the windings of the river, where alone it is raised, 

 ai'e so sheltered as to produce an almost artificial tempera- 

 ture. A palm tree brought young from Guayaquil flourishes 

 there, and " Agiiacates" (the fruit of the Laurus persea) ripen 

 perfectly, with oranges, limes, and other fruits which in ge- 

 neral are not cultivated at above 6000 feet. In proportion, 

 however, to the elevation is the time required for ripening the 

 sugar-cane, varying from nine months at the elevation of 

 1000 feet, to three years at the elevation above cited. 



Plantains and maize are the principal articles of food in 

 the lowlands or hot country, '^ tierra caliente," to use the 

 expression of the natives. The larger variety of plantain, 

 " Platano haiton" cannot be cultivated at elevations above 

 3000 feet, while the smaller variety " Cambiui," will ascend 

 to 6000 feet. Maize is perhaps the plant which, of all others, 

 embraces the greatest variety of temperature and elevation. 

 It is cultivated with equal advantage from the level of the 

 ocean to the flanks of the Andes, to 1 1,000 feet; tempera- 

 ture 80° — 59^^. It is true, that in the lowlands it ripens in 

 three months, whereas on the table lands of the Andes it re- 

 quires ten ; but the grain is larger, and the ear fuller in the 

 cold than in the hot country. 



The central or temperate zone of the Andes is distinguished 

 by tlie Cinchonas, the arborescent ferns which precede and 

 accompany the palms nearly, and in the moist forests of the 



