April r, 181,5.] THE TROPIC \L AGRICULTURIST. 
Gossytilm. — The cotton, some excellent varieties of 
which are indigenous to Peru ; the mummy cloths show 
that its use had been known thousands of years ago. 
The best cotton is found near Payta. 
Heliotrope. — Too well-known to need description. This 
favourite is a native of Peru, adorning and scenting the 
hill sides near Matucana, All the care of the British 
gardener has not improved this plant. 
HIBISCUS,— Malvaeea. Many varieties of this have been 
introduced and thrive, but few, if any, are indigenous. 
Sinensis, the shoeflower of Ceylon, grows everywhere. 
HEVEA-i'.ii.vziLiENSi.s. — This is the most valuable of all 
the rubber trees growing in the Pereue valley. 
Inca. — The native Inca name ; a large tree of the Acacia 
family ; abundant in the interior. The Inga So/men was 
introduced into Ceylon, and is now being extensively 
planted near Kandy, forming a refreshing shade by the 
wayside. 
IPOM.-BA. — Very numerous and various; from one of which 
our Jalap is obtained ; all convolvulus-like flowers. 
Juglaxs.— A splendid, but not yet fully described, species 
of walnut, growing abundantly in the Perene valley; mean- 
while named " Juglans Gadstimia." 
Lanta.na. — A pretty Verbena-like flowering shrub, better 
known in Ceylon than in its own native country. 
Lobelia.— Square miles on the mountains are covered 
with the beautiful blue Lobelia. 
Ll'PiNUS.— For all the finest varieties of Lupine the 
world is indebted to Peru. Covering immense tracts of 
country at about 10,000 feet altitude. 
M a ritlTiA.— Perhaps the most social palm in South 
America ; it abounds in the Pampa Hermosa of Peru, 
rising to 100 feet ; fruit eaten by Chunehos, and the pith 
yields a kind of sago. 
Maniuot.— The ".Inca" and chief food of the Chunehos, 
yielding the cassava and tapioca of commerce ; growing 
freely in the Pampa. The Ceara rubber is also a species 
of the Manihot. 
Mki.ia, OR Head Tkee.— Supposed to be a native of 
India, but common in Pern, as it is in Ceylon or Aus- 
tralia ; sometimes called Pride of India or Holy Tree. The 
f.nmms margosa oil is a product of this tree. 
Maci.EA.nia.— Named after a Scotch merchant in Limn.* 
A species of cranberry ; evergreen shrub, with reddish 
yellow flowers. 
Myrospermcm.— Which produces the " Balsam of Peru/' 
A leguminous tree about 40 feet high ; Pampan and 
Iluallaga. 
MUSA»— Plantains— or, as some are pleased to call them, 
Hir.i vtvxi— grow freely in all the moist valleys of Peru, 
particularly Chanchaihayo ; the quality of the fruit ex- 
ceptionally tine. Named Paraditiaia, on the supposition 
that it is the veritable apple which brought so much woe 
on mankind. Supposed to be a native of Ceylon, where 
it certainly grows wild, but had also been known to 
the encas of Peru for centuries before Columbus' dis- 
covery. Grown in moist sheltered valleys. The leaves 
are amongst the noblest in the vegetable kingdom, while 
the fruit is a favourite with every tribe of mankind 
— the wildest savages I ever saw appreciated their 
plantains. 
MAIZE. — To Peru what rice is to India. Several varie- 
ties growing from sea level up to 12,000 feet, producing 
from 200 to 400 fold. Innumerable ways of cooking it, 
and the chief drink of the country, called " Chiclai," is 
prepared from maize. 
M vi'ico. -(Piner Augttstifolium.) A Peruvian pepper 
abundant on the eastern slope ; loaves found useful in 
stopping hremorrhage. 
Ouaxuks. — In great perfection at all seasons. 
ORCHIDS. — " These flower-," said Humboldt, sometimes 
resemble winged insects, sometimes like birds ; the life of 
a painter would not be long enough to delineate all the 
magnificent orchidaca which adorns the mountain valleys 
of Pent." While en rout" for Ambo, we met a collector 
who had succeeded in gathering together from J00 to ">00 
varieties of these highly prized flowers. No botanist 
coital desire a more magnificent sight than some of the 
huge trees otr the Heretic and Hagllaga, the trunks and 
arms of which are laden with orchids, mosses, lichens, 
ferns, and Vanilla itr the greatest possible profusion and 
luxuriance. The Odontoglossum variety seems especially 
rich and plentiful. 
Pai.m. -Peru is particularly rich in palms. The wax palm 
(t'ervvvlon is the loftiest, rising to a height of from 100 
to t- ! i feet ; as a contrast Others are stentless (Nipa). 
Between these two there is an immense variety of 
feathery cities, and tit ? more majestic specimens of this 
noble family. 
Picks ka Or vrtssi.MA. — The much-esteemed Avoeada pear 
sometimes called Alligator pear; eaten at every men) 
in Peru when obtainable Toe Ceylon variety poor in 
comparison. 
"THE Peppkr Tube." (Schlnus Mulle.) So much ad- 
mired in Australia. Is one of the mosl beautiful indi- 
I'tu lo we believe, of the late Mis Win. Fetgtlloll of 
Colombo,— Ed: T.A. 
geuous trees in Peru, seen in great perfection near Ambo. 
Nat. order, Peiebinthacea. 
Potato. —The world has been indebted to Peru for many 
of its choicest vegetable foods, chief amongst which is 
the potato ; cultivated by the Incas under the name of 
" Papa" for centuries before the barbarous conquest. 
Rums.— Several very beautiful and prolific varieties of 
the Bramble growing around Metraro ; now introduced into 
Ceylon by Mr. Clark. 
Tacsonia.— The Peruvian name of a beautiful and use- 
ful passion flower, lovely rose and scarlet flowers, and 
delicious fruits ; it makes a grand green-house climber. 
Vanilla Planifolia.— A parasitical orchid, chiefly 
valued for the perfume yielded by its pods— the vanilla 
of commerce ; these vines are abundant in the Perene 
valley. 
Vrns ViMi-ERA. — Grapes either for table or wine, of a 
quality rarely produced in the tropics. 
Zea. — Indian Cor n. Marvellously prolific in the valleys 
of the Andes ; giving amazing returns, and with little 
toil affording abundant food and drink of the very best 
quality. 
We next come on a brief chapter devoted to 
" the West Indian Islands" as seen on the way 
back. Those dealt with in Mr. Sinclair's happy 
style with a good deal of useful information 
interspersed are the Bahamas, Jamaica, Trinidad, 
Tobago, Grenada and Barbadoes. Our author 
points out the common error of the imtravelled 
Briton in thinking these islands are near each 
other in place of being from 1,003 to 1,500 miles 
apart ; while the actual number of islets in 
each group has scarcely yet been computed, as 
in the Bahamas of which only 30 are inhabited 
out of 3.000! Of Sir Bruce Burnside's oh! home 
Ave are told : — 
These lie just outside the tropics, but the Gulf 
stream flowing in the narrow channel which sepa- 
rates them from Florida, keeps the temperature up, 
and permits the cultivation of every tropical pro- 
duct ; while, as winter resorts, these islands are 
becoming every year more famous, the moderate rain- 
fall of 40 inches per annum, and the mildness of 
the perpetual summer, rendering the climate one of 
the very finest. The chief industry hithereto has been 
the gathering of sponges, though the export of fruit 
comes in a good second. Pine apples, oranges, 
plantains, coconuts, and tomatoes are shipped an- 
nually to the value of about .£50,000, while sponges 
amount to over £58,000. There are also some valu- 
able timber trees, such as mahogany, ligmim-vitee, 
mastic, ironwood, and logwood, though there does not 
seem to be mtuh enterprise in the direction of 
utilising these. There has, however, of recent years 
been introduced an industry eminently suitable for 
the soil aud climate, a product which promises at 
no distant date to become the leading export. This is 
sisal hemp, first introduced by that prince of practical 
Governors, Sir Henry Blai e, now worthily succeeded 
in the B.ihaman islands by Sir Ambrose Shea. 
Titen of the Sugar Island :— 
We reached Jamaica on a pleasantly cool and 
absolutely calm Sunday evening. The sinking sun 
glittered on the house-tops, and the bright green 
ioliage of the numerous trees sparkled after a re- 
freshing shower. The grand old Blue Mountains 
which rose behind were topped with mist, but we 
could see just below the edge of the cloud the 
eerie homes of the soldiers, while ou the nearer 
slopes nestle the no doubt charming homes of th* 
Kingston merchants'. " Kingston is just lovely," 
said a lady at my elbow, and I can onlv echo her 
words. To me the scene came as a surprise. I had 
never hoard, or had forgotten, about the natural 
breakwater which so effectually protects the beauti- 
ful harbour. It is eight miles long and from 30 to 
GO yards broad; is closely planted with palm trees, 
which, near by. look like a magnificent hedge ; in 
the distance, a thread of green. On the one sido 
e C arribbean Soa roars, but never breaks through ; 
v> \>be other, all is placid as a mill-dam. 
