The Cochineal Plant with the Insects. 47 



cochineal itisorl s, now bi<r with young, are place] in nests made 

 of a species oi'Tillandsia called Paxtle, which are distributed 

 upon the nopals. In about four months the first gathering, 

 yielding twelve for one, may be made, which in the course ot 

 the year is succeeded by two more profitable harvests, 'i his 

 period of sowing and harvest refers chiefly to the districts of 

 Sola and Zimatlan. In colder climates the semilla is not 

 placed upon the nopals until October or even December, when 

 it is necessary to shelter the young insects by covering- the 

 nopals with rush mats, and the harvests are proportionably 

 later and unproductive. In the immediate vicinity of the town 

 Oaxaca the Nopaleros feed their Cochineal Insects in the plains 

 from October to April, and at the beginning of the remaining 

 months, during which it rains in the plains, transport them to 

 their plantations of nopals in the neighbouring mountains, where 

 the weather is more favorable. 



" Much care is necessary in the tedious operation of gather- 

 ing the cochineal from the nopals, which is performed with a 

 squirrel's or stag's tail by the Indian women, who for this pur- 

 pose squat down for hours together beside one plant; and not- 

 withstanding the high price of the cochineal, it is to be doubted 

 if the cultivation would be profitable were the value of labour 

 more considerable. (a) 



" The cochineal insects arc killed either by throwing them 

 into boiling water, by exposing tin m in heaps to the sun, or 

 by placing them in the ovens (Temazealli) used for vapour- 

 baths. The last of these methods, which is least in use, pre- 

 serves the whitish powder on the body of the cochineal, which 

 being thus less subject to the adulterations go often practised 

 by the Indians, bears a higher price both in America and 

 Europe. 



" The quantity at present annually exported from South 

 America, is said by Humboldt, to be .'32,000 arolas, there 

 worth £ 500,040 sterling, (b) — a vast amount to arise from to 

 small an insect, and well calculated to show us the absurdity 

 of despising any animals on account of their minuteness. So 

 important is the acquisition of this insect (of which the Spanish 

 Government is extremely jealous) regarded, that the Court of 

 Directors of the East India Company have offered a reward of 

 £6000 sterling to any one who shall introduce it into India (c), 



(a) I believe that the cultivation would succeed very well in India, oi> ac- 

 count of the low wages: as also in this Colony, it being easy work, the 11 it- 

 <pii I o t women and children would prefer it ahove other labor. 



(A) Or. Bancroft estimates the present annual consumption in Great Briloiu 

 ■U about 150 bags, or 150,000 lbs., worth at the present price 1175,000/. 



(c) Sec Kirby & Spence, vol. 1. p. 321. edited in Wi'i, (9 years ago) ! I ! 



