Chap. XXTIl. THE DODABETTA SITE. 381 



through the fog, which almost constantly lies on the damp 

 foliage of the forest.^ Mr. Cross mentions that he saw trees 

 of C. succiruhra on his way to Loxa, growing at elevations of 

 from 8000 to 9000 feet above the sea. 



The site, in the Dodabetta ravine, slopes down from 7700 

 to 7600 feet above the sea, yet, from local causes, it is several 

 degrees warmer than the station at Ootacamund ; and the 

 temperature agrees with that of the species of chinchona- 

 plants described above. The annual temperature of the peak 

 of Dodabetta, of Ootacamund, and of the warmer station of 

 Kotergherry, are given on the following page. 



The Dodabetta site, being four or five degrees warmer than 

 Ootacamund, throughout the year, has a temperature, on 

 the whole, somewhat warmer than the lofty regions where 

 the species of chinchona grow, for the cultivation of which 

 this position was selected. The elevation above the 

 sea exactly corresponds, and the amount of humidity is 

 about the same. The ravine is full of fine trees, with a 

 variety of exposures, the general aspect being north-west ; a 

 clear little stream flows through it ; and, in most parts, the 

 soil consists of a rich loam fom- or five feet deep. Outside 

 the wooded ravine there are tree Rhododendrons, Berberis, 

 Gaultherias, lilies, Lycopodia, and brake-fems, scattered 

 about on the grassy slopes; and the character of the scenery and 

 vegetation very closely resembles that of the pajonal country 

 between the valleys of Sandia and Tambopata in Caravaya, 

 where the shrub Calisaya flourishes. The site is protected by 

 rising grounds from the cold northerly winds, and the colder 

 breezes blowing over it from ridge to ridge prevent the 

 warm air in the ravine from rising, so that the temperature 

 became warmer as we ascended through the wood, and in the 

 highest part there were orchids and pepper-vines hanging on 

 the trees. 



- Karsten. 



