GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SUGAR 

 DISTRICTS. 



Geographically, Peru lies within the tropical zone. The great back 

 of the Andes running parallel to the coast and some miles from it, 

 divides Peru into two agricultural divisions which are radically dif- 

 ferent as to climate and vegetation the East or wet side, and the 

 West or dry side. The East is the land of jungles, rains, and the head 

 waters of the "Great River." The resources of this part of Peru have 

 not been fully exploited. Sugarcane does grow there, but at present 

 the scene of activity in the development of the sugar industry is along 

 the Pacific West Coast Strip. We speak only with reference to what 

 has been learned of this West Coast. 



From the West slope of the Andes spurs run out toward the sea to 

 the coast forming valleys, some of which cover thousands of acres. 

 The productive valleys are drained by rivers or streams. The areas 

 beyond the irrigation limit of these streams or rivers present the 

 appearance of a desert waste, but the soil is not usually a desert soil 

 and needs only water to bring forth a luxuriant growth. 



The primary agencies that helped to form the valley lands were 

 undoubtedly terrestial disturbances, inundations and receedings of the 

 sea, etc.; but from an agricultural standpoint the most potent factor 

 has been the erosive and depositive action of the mountain waters. The 

 rivers have a flood and short season; during a few months of the year 

 the waters from the Andes come down the gorges of the West slope in 

 torrents, collecting at the head of the valley to form rivers which are 

 sometimes augmented to floods. After the Hood season, the water grad- 

 ually subsides until only a small stream finds its way in the riverbed 

 to the sea. It is the flood waters that have aided in forming the pro- 

 ductive agricultural lands. 



Location. The chief sugar growing regions at present are in the 

 North Central, Central, and South Central valleys, the largest dis- 

 trict being about 7 degrees South of the Equator. 



CLIMATE. 



Although the West Coast of Peru is included in the geographical 

 tropics and the principal sugar district is within 7 or 8 degrees of the 

 Equator, the climate is not, as might be expected, truly tropical. The 

 influences that have modified it are, the cold ocean currents from 



