18 Meteorological Observations made in 



{Geo. PL, p. 152) that a comparison betwixt annual mean tem- 

 peratures of Europe and the elevated tropical regions would by 

 Ho means give a correct state of the climate. Thus, though the 

 mean temperature of the south of France and of duito be the 

 same, (about 59°) such fruits as peaches, apricots, pears, figs and 

 grapes, which ripen in perfection in the former, although abun- 

 dantly produced in the latter, never attain their proper size or 

 flavor. The reason is, that the temperature is equal throughout 

 the year. There is consequently no period, as in Europe, of 

 summer heat sufficient to ripen fruit requiring at this season a 

 mean temperature of 65° or 70°. As far, however, as the height 

 of 7,000 feet all kinds of fruit are cultivated with success ; and 

 the markets of the colder country are thus constantly supplied 

 from the neighboring valleys or " caliejites." Humboldt is mis- 

 taken in supposing the olive always barren {semper sterilis manet, 

 p. 154.) On the Gluitenian Andes near Hambato, it produces 

 abundantly, though little attention is paid to its cultivation. 



When we ascend above the extreme limit of cultivation, 

 which may be placed at 11,500 feet, and pass the region of the 

 Barnadesia, Hyperica, Thibaudice, Gaultherim, BuddleicB, and 

 other coriaceous leaved shrubs which, at this elevation, form thick- 

 ets of perpetual bloom and verdure, we enter the region of Par- 

 amos (13,000 to 15,000 feet) properly so called, which present to 

 the eye unvaried deserts clothed with long grass, constituting the 

 pasture grounds of the Andes. Humboldt is inclined to fix below 

 this region the limit of forest trees; {Geo. PL, p. 148) and in 

 fact very few are generally met with near this elevation on those 

 flanks of the Cordillera which join the inhabited table lands. 

 But T have observed on crossing the side of Pichincha, towards 

 the uninhabited forests of Esmeraldas, that the forests occm- nearly 

 through the whole space which, on the eastern slope, is a naked 

 paramo. Is this owing to a difference of cHmate ? Or has the 

 practice of burning the paramos, universal in the Andes, together 

 with the demand for fire-wood in the vicinity of large towns, con- 

 tributed to give this region the bare aspect it has at present? 

 Further observations on the mountain slopes towards Maynas and 

 Macas are necessary to throw light on this point. It is certain 

 from the pnesent aspect of the inhabited plain of Quito, where 

 we meet with a few scattered trees of Arayan {BIyrtiis) and ar- 

 tificial plantations of Capuli, {Prunus salicifoUa) we should con- 



