April 1, 1865.] THE TECHNOLOGIST. 



NORTHERN PERU. 419 



The engine for working the pumps and the cotton-gins is of twenty- 

 five-horse power. The fuel used is chiefly algarrobo wood, which the 

 estate affords in inexhaustible abundance, but cotton seeds are also 

 burnt. The pumps in use are four strap (or Chinese) pumps, and one 

 centrifugal pump, which throws up more water than all the rest ; but it 

 exacts so nearly all the force of the engine that it cannot be used at the 

 same time as the gins. By keeping the centrifugal pump or the four 

 strap pumps in moderate action for twelve hours each day, the whole of 

 the cotton plants can be watered at least once a week, and oftener where 

 it is found necessary. The canals are raised by embankments to various 

 levels, so as to provide for the prompt and equable distribution of the 

 water over the land to be irrigated. These levels are respectively 16 

 feet, 20 feet, 23^ feet, and 26| feet above low water in the river. The 

 highest level has not yet been made use of; it would convey the water 

 over an extent of 2,000 acres. Even the next in height would suffice to 

 irrigate a much greater breadth of land than has yet been brought under 

 cultivation. 



Monte Abierto was begun to be worked in January, 1862, the first 

 process being to clear away the algarrobo which covered nearly all the 

 ground. By the end of September the preparations were so far advanced 

 that an experiment could be made in the growth of cotton by irrigation; 

 and seven different varieties — 150 seedlings of each — being planted out 

 on the 26th of that month, grew up and began to yield their first crop 

 of cotton as nnder : — 



When sown. When ripe. Interval. 



Egyptian . . Sept. 26 Feb. 



Boyd's Prolific . „ „ 



Sea-Island . . „ March 



Georgia „ „ 



New Orleans . „ „ 



Imbabura . . ,, „ 



Piura or Criollo . „ May 



Of all these kinds, the (so-called) Egyptian and the native Piura 

 gave the largest crop of cotton, although the entire yield of the 150 

 plants of each kind was, unfortunately, not recorded ; and the per- 

 centage of pure cotton ginned from the mass of cotton and seeds was as 

 under : — 



Piura, 37 to 38 per cent. 



Imbabura, 36 to 37 per cent. 



New Orleans ) QO . „., ^„ _ . 



Egyptian . \ 32 to 33 P er ceut 



The percentage of clean cotton to gross weight of cotton and seeds 

 is important only to the growers and exporters, and not at all to the 

 English merchants and manufacturers ; for if the proportion of cotton 

 to gross weight be small, then the overland carriage to the port of Payta 

 becomes more costly to the producer ; and the broker who buys it there 



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