of view of wax production. The Cero.rylon, which grows 
on the Sierra. Nevada of Santa Marta, is quite distinct from 
the species on the Cordillera Central, having a much more 
slender bole. One of the most beautiful sights on this 
Cordillera is that of a Ceroxylon palm in fruit. It produces 
large hanging racemes of brilliant scarlet fruits which, in 
striking contrast to its white trunk, makes an impressive 
sight. 
Coffee, tobacco and sugar-cane are the principal cultiva- 
tions ; a considerable area is devoted to imported pastures 
for cattle raising. Armenia has two Irilladoras, having a 
capacity of 28,000 arrobas ; there are also two chocolate 
factories and about 60 sugar-cane mills of various descrip- 
tions producing in the aggregate 75,000 arrobas of panda. 
It has also an aqueduct, which has three falls, from which 
almost unlimited force could be generated ; this is con- 
sidered one of the iinest public works of the Department. 
Besides the above there is an electric plant. 
On the 22nd 1 visited Calarca, a town adjacent to 
Anserma, situated at the very base of the Cordillera 
Central on the road to Ibague. There is operating in 
Calarca a coffee-cleaning mill, two tanneries, a chocolate 
factory and 62 sugar-cane mills of different descriptions 
which produce about 162,000 arrobas of sugar in the year; 
Fig. XII. — The Wax Palm {Ceroxylon andicola). 
Quiteria. (Spigelia, pedunculata, H. B. et K.) 
My attention was drawn here, as well as in other parts 
of Caldas, to a root employed locally as a vermifuge. It 
is in great repute with the 
medical profession in the 
Department, and is preferred 
to other vermifuges in most 
cases. Samples of the root 
and botanical material have 
been sent to London for 
technical investigation and 
analysis, to ascertain if it may 
be of any value as a drug for 
export. 
On November 20th we con- 
tinued our journey and arrived 
at Armenia in the afternoon. 
The township is situated on a 
small plain at the foot of 
Corocito Hill. It lies at about 
1,550 metres above sea- level 
^nd has an average tempera- 
We of 19“C. T he municipality 
covers an area of about 312 
square kilometre s of excellent 
agricultural lands, the greater 
part being tierra tern plada.' 
' Temperate zone. 
The Quindio. 
From Calarca I proceeded to ascend the Quindio along 
the Ibague road. The lower slopes are composed of 
fertile land, and here one meets with extensive cultivations 
of coffee, sugar-cane, maize and yuca. This is followed 
by forest land, where cedar and other valuable timber trees 
are found. In the middle reaches of the Cordillera, pine 
{Juniperus) and cliaqiiero (Podocarpiis) occur ; also oak or 
roblc, the latter increasing in quantity until in the upper- 
central zone the forests are almost exclusively of oak, 
which laden with the grey Uanca lichen gives a somewhat 
sad aspect to the scenery. When the limit of the oak 
forest is reached, cuseniUa appears ; there are two species 
of eitseia'lla {Wdnmannia spp.), the bark of both kinds is 
valued for tanning purposes. Another interesting tree in 
this region, and which is very abundant, is the palo deaji, 
otherwise known as Drimya granatensis. This tree affords 
a bark similar to the Winter’s Bark of commerce, noted 
for its tonic and stimulant properties. At the very top 
of the Cordillera a species of guava {Psidiinn) is one 
of the common trees. 
Near the summit of the Cordillera is the divisory line 
between the Departments of Caldas and Tolima. The 
highest point of the Cordillera is approximate!}' 3,400 
metres above sea-level. From here we descended the 
Tolima or eastern slope of the Cordillera via La Lora to 
Perales, which lies at about 2,650 metres according to my 
aneroid. Here I was the guest of Mr. Lloyd Owen, the 
manager of the Quindio Mercury Mines, Ltd. 
Fig. XIII.— Quindio Mercury Mines. 
