598 DLLOA's voyage to south AMERICA. 



vineyards, and gardens of all kin3s, all yielding uncommon plenty. Lima differs fromi 

 Quito, where the fruits of the earth have no determined fealbns ; but here the harvefts 

 are gathered in, and the trees drop their leaves, according to their refpedlive natures ; 

 for thofe which grow fpontaneoufly in a hot climate, though the livelinefs of their ver- 

 dure fades, their leaves do not fall off till others fupply their place. The blofibms alfo 

 have their refpeclive times, and are correfpondently fucceeded by fruits ; fo that this 

 country refembles thofe of the temperate zones, no lefs in the product and feafons of 

 corn, bloffoms, fruits, and flowers, than in the difference of winter and fummer. 



Before the earthquake in 1687, when this city fuffered in fo deplorable a manner, 

 the harvefts of wheat and barley were fufficient to fupply the wants of the country 

 without any importation, efpecially of wheat ; but by this convulfion of nature, the 

 s^At <w^ ^oi^ was fo vitiated, that the wheat rotted foon after it was fown, occafioned, probably, 

 by the vaft clouds of fulphureous particles then exhaled, and the prodigious quantities 

 of nitrous effluvia diffufed through it. This obliged the owners of the lands to apply 

 them to other ufes, and accordingly many of them were turned into meadows of 

 clover, plantations of fugar-canes, and other vegetables, which they found not fubjefl: 

 to the fame misfortune. After the land had continued forty years in this ftate of 

 fterility, the hufbandmen began to perceive fuch alteration in the foil, as promifed a 

 fpeedy return to its former goodnefs. Accordingly fome trials were fuccefsfully made 

 with wheat, and by degrees that grain was found to thrive as before that dreadful 

 event. But whether it be from the other plants, which have been cultivated in thofe 

 parts, or from any millrufl of the hufbandmen, the fame quantity has not been fown 

 as before. It is natural to think that the late dreadful earthquake muff have had the 

 fame pernicious effeds on the foil ; though by means of the eflablifliment of the corn 

 trade with Chili fmce that time, the confequences will not be fo fenfibly felt. The 

 fields in the neighbourhood of Lima are chiefly fown with clover, of which there is 

 here a confumption not to be paralleled in any other place : it being the common 

 fodder for all beafts, particularly the mules and horfes, of which there is an incon- 

 ceivable number. 



The other parts of the country are taken up with plantations already mentioned, 

 among which thofe of canes are not the leafl:, and yield an excellent kind of fugar. 

 All thefe fields and plantations are cultivated by negro flaves, purchafed for this fer- 

 vice ; and the fame is feen in the other improved parts of Valles. 



The olive plantations appear like thick forefl:s ; for befides the height, magnitude, 

 and fulnefs of leaves of thefe trees, in all which they exceed thofe of Spain, they are 

 never pruned, by which means their branches become fo interwoven, that the ligjit 

 cannot penetrate through their foliage. The plough is not ufed here ; the only culti- 

 vation they require, being to clear the holes made at the foot of each for receiving 

 the water, to keep the trenches open which convey it, and every three or four years 

 to cut down all fhoots or cions, in order to form paffages for gathering the fruit. 

 With this fmall trouble the inhabitants have an uncommon plenty of the finell olives, 

 which they either commit to the prefs for oil, or pickle, they being particularly adapted 

 to the latter, both with regard to their beauty, largenefs, and flavour. Their oil is 

 much preferable to that of Spain. 



The country contiguous to the city is covered with gardens, producing all the herbs 

 and fruits known in Spain, and of the fame goodnefs and beauty, befides thofe com- 

 mon to America ; all which flourilh here in a very uncommon degree ; fo that none 

 of the parts of Peru, at leaft fuch as we vifited, are to be compared with thofe of the 



4 neighbour- 



