jan. — mar. 1857.] Peruvian Bark-tree. 



received information of this, he returned speedily to Sandia to se- 

 cure all, that the plants might not suffer from the air and heat. 

 On arriving, he found about 400 Calisaya plants, although not all 

 of the strength for which he had agreed. The person who brought 

 them must have had a very difficult journey to arrive at Sandia 

 with this precious cargo. 



" We shall not here enumerate the difficulties and dangers with 

 which Mr. Hasskarl and that precious burden had to contend be- 

 fore he had accomplished a distance of 150 leagues, to bring those 

 objects in a safe state to a place of shipment. The necessary 

 means were contrived and put in action to obtain the seeds pro- 

 mised, but in this he was not able to succeed. The person who had 

 undertaken to secure them, and to follow him on his arrival at San- 

 dia, to Arequipa and Islay, and for which sufficient travelling ex- 

 penses were allowed, did not come ; at the same time, the interest 

 that was felt in keeping the plants alive did not admit of delay. 



" In die packing of the plants several circumstances required at- 

 tention ; first, the plants were to be made sufficiently damp to be 

 able to reach the coast without drying up, notwithstanding the 

 strong drying winds, and the almost perpendicular rays of the sun. 

 Particularly was it necessary to protect them against this last, 

 against the great warmth during the day ; while on the other, it 

 was equally necessary to guard these precious objects against the 

 other extreme, the cold of the evenings and nights, which on those 

 mountains is sufficiently severe. Just in the months from June 

 till August, the water on the high table-lands (particularly at 

 night) is frozen to ice. If it had been the aim of the indefatigable 

 traveller to transport the plants set in earth, the weight, and the 

 consequently increased number of beasts of burden, would have 

 caused more hindrances ; the plants themselves, but particularly 

 their roots, would certainly have been injured by the continual 

 shaking of the animals. It was also necessary, in other points of 

 view, to provide for the plants in such manner that they should not 

 have to suffer ; considering that large plants were difficult to pre- 

 serve from the injurious external influences before mentioned. The 

 sprigs were closely packed together, with the roots in damp moss ; 



