166 
The cultivated shrub succeeds best in the 
| mild but very moist climates of the sub- 
v Andes, on elevations between 2,000 and 
5,000 feet above the sea, where the mercury 
does not frequently fall below 15? C. (Centi- 
mite Y ] 1 +1 1i Peeper of Pd 
E a p 
great and sudden changes. In the province 
of Huanuco, 9,000 feet above the sea, night 
. frosts sometimes occur, killing the Coca, 
and where the mean temperature exceeds 
" 20° C., the plants lose their strength, and 
the dryness of the leaf, which always be- 
speaks a too warm situation, is accompanied 
by a want of flavour, which causes it to be 
rejected by an experienced coquero. For 
this reason the Coca is not cultivated even 
ET on the plain parts of Maynas, and the few 
natives, accustomed to its use, procure it 
from the more elevated districts. North 
of Lima, it is extensively grown in the 
provinces of Huanuco and Guamalies; the 
former of which maintains a high celebrity 
for its Coca. Experience proves that it 
-succeeds best on declivities, and little rug- 
-ged slopes, free, however, from stones, 
where the earth, of a brick-red colour, 
probably contains much iron, and may be 
considered identical with that kind of soil, 
: on which, in the North of Cuba, the natives 
a cultivate the best coffee, and on which, 
near Havanna, the finest kinds of tobacco 
are raised. Limestone, again, is very de- 
trimental to the growth of Coca, unless co- 
vered with a layer of vegetable soil, and 
even then, the shrub becomes stunted; and, 
producing only knotty branches and no 
leaves, speedily perishes. Swampy land 
acts eyen more disadvantageously, and oc- 
. casions the roots to rot. But as on such 
: e varied ground and interrupted surface, the 
* 
warm districts, the usual process of felling 
and b the natural wood is practised, 
which ligue atthe close of the dry sea- 
son, after which they proceed to sowing 
the i» Cost ——— been gathered 
SOME ACCOUNT OF THE 
-water, rejecting those whose lightnessmakes 
USES 
whenever their ripeness is indicated by 
bright scarlet colour. In order to preve 
the dry berries being attacked by rotte 
ness, they pick out the decayed ones, 
then throw the remainder into vessels of 
them swim, as .having been injured by i 
sects. 
If sown at the proper time, No- 
vember, te one hundred plants speg 
up and 
sixteen months after sowing, the yo | 
branchless shrubs are transplanted singly 
to other holes, and ranged, if possible, in 
straight lines, thus forming the proper 
plantation, called a Cocal. Here the shrub 
is destined to pass its life, and it receives 
the customary treatment, which, though 
not laborious, involves a good deal of at- 
so rapid and vigorous as almost to defy the 
art of man. Certain plants spring up with 
incredible celerity, among them some 
grasses are peculiarly troublesome, nameti 
Panicum platycaule, Poir., P. scan 
8. Trin decumbens, R. and S, " 
Portia  Peruvianum, 
hausts the soil as to destroy the Coca, w 
it maintains its own vegetative 
though burnt down to the —— 
