135 



weight. Among the duracines, that kind calîed in 

 the country alberchigos, is the most in estimation ; 

 the fruit is large and very excellent, the pulp is of 

 a reddish white, and the stone perfectly red. The tree, 

 like the fig, bears twice ayear; in the month of Janua- 

 ry it yields large and pulpy peaches, and in April 

 a small fruit, resembling the almond, of a delicious 

 taste, called almendruchos» The pears and cher- 

 ries produce also twice a year, but the latter growth 

 rarely obtains perfect maturity.*- Oranges, lemons 

 and citrons, of which there are many varieties in 

 Chili, grow every where in the open fields, and their 

 vegetation is not inferior to that of the other trees. 

 Besides the common kind a species of small lemon 

 is much cultivated, the fruit of which is about the 

 size of a walnut, and very juicy. The leaves are 

 small and resemble those of the orange more than 

 the lemon, a very delicious sweetmeat is made from 

 the fruit, and the juice is much used in inflam- 

 matory fevers. 



The olive grows very v/ell, paiticularly in the vi- 

 cinity of St. Jago, where I have seen trees of three 

 feet in diameter and of a proportional height. Med- 

 lars, service apples, the three- grained medlar and 

 the jujube, are the only European fruits at pre- 

 sent unknown in Chili. 



* The fruit trees brought from Europe thrive very well in that 

 country, whose climate is so favourabie as respects vegetation that 

 the trees bear fruit there the whole year. I have frequently seen 

 in the same orchard, what is common in orangeries, the fruit in 

 all states, in the bud, in flower, green and perfectly ripe at the 

 »am« time. — Frazier'n Voijai^r^ vol. i. 



