April i, 1892.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
769 
The Btody ot this locality and of tbu cultivation is 
yalnable, inasmucb aa it furnikbea an indicaiiou of 
what might naturally he expected, hut cuder tnncb 
more favourable oonditioua, irom the vaat ntrttob of 
land adjacent to the Peten^ which your UommisBlonete 
have aelected. 
Further, aa will bo obaerved, I hare in my desorip. 
tioD of the varioua brancbee of agriculture iu tbia 
region, obaerved flrat the present state of these pro- 
ducts and their importance commercially and iucoi- 
porated with them my auggesiiona on what, in my 
opinion, would prove the beat means of cultivation 
and generally the development of the district. 
I desire also that these remarks be held as applying 
to the land selected hy the Commieainners, aa I regard 
the Obanchainayo Valley, somewhat in the relation of 
an experimental garden to that rich territory beyond, 
which it is now proposed to tnke up, 
The time of the year when the Oommiasiouera visited 
thia district was in the months of July and Angual, 
which we then learned was the dry season. This sea- 
son exleods from the latter end of May to the middle 
ot Ootiiber. During that period, however, there are 
frequent showers, and I am informed on reliable 
authority that the district is not anbjict to dronghls 
ol any great length . ( time. This information riceivod 
corroboration by the melhod of onUivaticn adopted on 
all tbe plantations througbout the valley. 
Tbe wst season extends from tbe middle ol October 
to the latter end of May. 
The absence of any stalislica regarding tbo rainfall 
prevents me giving accurate fignrts; but from 
my experience in the tropics, and from a careful 
analysis nf the flora of the district, I estiniale the rain- 
fall to be not lees than 75 inohee, in the neighbourhood 
of Cbanobamayo. 
Theextraordiusry bealtbiness of tho people, Kuro- 
pe an and native, througbout this val’ey, u ay be takes 
as the bea criterion of the salubii'y of the climate. 
Under ordinary preraiitiona no fear ni od be enterlained 
ot any attacks of malaria; and dysentery la of very rare 
occurrence. Compared with the climate of othi r 
tropical couDtries I have visited, I have no boriration 
in stating that it may bo regarded as one of the best. 
In such a climate the flora iv of the moat varied and 
luxuriant description, and, from a purely botanical 
point of view, is of tbe greate t interest. 
The flora of the Cbanobamayo and Perced, districts 
being essentially similar, or nearly so, I have to refer 
tbe Directors to my description, under this beading, of 
the Perene— seep. 1C. 
The lauds at pretent under cultivation are only 
thoso situate in the immediate vicinity of tho liver. 
Theyare more crltsa flat and extend down the valley 
for about sev en miles. 
Examination of tbe soil — a rich loam and of great 
depth — throughout the entire district enables me 
vitbout hesitatiou to elate that it is admirably suited 
to the snooeBtful cultivation of most tropical producta. 
There is a suiBoirnt supply, from the anrreunding 
hills, of water of a gi o I quslity, which could be utilised 
in the cultivation of rice and other plants requiting 
similar treatment. 
Dealing with each product according to its relative 
importance, eiigar cane here again ranks Brat. 
The plantations throughout the valley number 16 
in all, and vary in extent from 20 to 1.50 acres each. 
The variety of cane is that chiefly grown around Lima, 
named “ Idalangure, ” and by its luxuriant growth, 
rising as it does to a height of from 8 to 10 feet, 
gives evidence of the fertility of the loil 
The cane is capable of yielding “ cuttings ” 12 
to 16 months after planting, and for a period of from 
five to seven years ooctinuev to bear profitable or' ps, 
after which period replanting is necessary. Thecul'i- 
yation dilTers from that of Lima in that iiD irrigation 
IS required. 
The damp climate fovoiira a growth of cane more 
suited to the production of rum, for which pnrpote 
entirely it is grown ; to much so, that tho tiemand for 
sugar to meet the want, of the ptople baa to be 
obtained from Lima. The yield per acre is about 150 
(mllong of rum. A ready outlet for this is found in 
the markets of Oroya, Oeiro tie Pasco and Tarmn, at 
tho rate of 50 cents per arroba of 26 lb. 
Tbe cultivation of sugar osne appears to be better 
nndtrstood by tbe estate managers than that of any 
product; but even here the management is deficient 
in agrioultuial knowledge, and the onl-tnni ol sugar 
could he materially increased by the introduotion of 
mure profitable varieties. 
More expeditious means of transit would enable 
sugar growers to employ more recent and economical 
maobiuety in the proocas of manipulation than that 
now in use, and would facilitate tho conveyance of 
Tiianuro, ao indispensable to successful cultivation in 
other sugar produciug countries. 
To a coffee planter, the Chanobsmayo Valley 
and surrounding lands preaentafield of vaat import ante 
and may be compared to the moat favourable situations 
in Ceylon, every oondition favouring tho modern 
cultivation of this most remunerative plant. 
The Coffee Gardens here number about 100, varying 
in size from 8 lo 30 seres in extent, and Irom the 
primitive mode of cnltivation, such as the want of 
systematic pruning, &c., the plant would, to a Ceylon 
planter, he considered “ Native Coffee.” ^ 
It is with pleasure I have to report that, ao far aa 
my observations and investigations went, no ioaeot 
pest common lo thia plant, or indications of Htmiltia 
vaatutnx. “Coffee leaf fungns’’ were apparent 
Up to the present ihe fertility of tbe aoil has been 
anoh at to render the use of mtiiura unneecsaary ■ 
SO much 80, that on a visit to one of the gardens. 1 
h-und tho bushes laden with ripe frnit to snob an 
extent as to cause the primary brandies to break 
and, to all appearance, promising a yield of from 8 
tolOcwts. per acre. 
The curing of the bean ii here carried out in the 
most primitive style, the prnoeas consisting of eimnlv 
dryirg the berry iu the husk in the sun, and there- 
after pounding it, giving consequently a broken sample 
which presents a poor appearance. 
The total yield of tbo Chanebamayo Valley aroo unt 
to 2,500 owts. per annum ; and, aa a repreeentaive 
instance of local value obtained, I may state tba a 
parcel of a few owts. grown in the valley fetched 
S15 per quintal (100 lb.) at Terms, selling again in 
L>ma at §23. 
For tbe information of the Corporation, I embody 
a report by Messrs. Wilson, 8milhett A Co., of 41 
Mincing Dane, London, nj-on a sample procured by 
myself in this valley, and onred as described by mi. 
This report I consider satwfsctory: 
.. TV. Q- ,.7 , "I-OMKOK. Nov. 24th, 1891. 
Dear Bir,— We have examined the sample of 
coffee from Peru as requested by yon, and report as 
follows:— Fine ordinary palish grfou, rather small 
berry, uneven size, fairly well garbled, clean flavour 
value per owt. 85 b.— V onr obedient Servants, 
■‘Wilson, SMiTHttTT & Co.” 
They farther add in a letter covering their leport- 
. . . . “Wo enclose our report on it (sample) 
and in addition have to say, that tho coffee is of a 
moat saleable and desirable kind, and tho flavoor is 
much Buperior to the small imports of Peruvian 
growth wo have already sold.’* 
It might be hero worthy of notice that on the ad- 
jacent hills I imme upon a small patch of coffee growing 
at an elevation of 6,350 foet 'although I con.fdcr thi 
ouMiv^ittu could be extended to aa high an altitude 
as feet, jadgiog from the climato and the oharac* 
ter of flora fouud. 
The advantages acorniug from a ay slematie pruning 
and handling of tbe coffee bnsh do not appear to be 
known, or, if known, do not appear lo be practised- 
ahlle ID tbe utilisation of the land alcummai d,no 
regard is made in planting to distances. Ooffee, in 
fact, is allowed to grow wild ; and if, as I have shown 
anon splendid results are already obtained — results 
which 1 cun only compare to the palmiest of Ceylon 
days— what might bo expeoted from ao intelligent and 
systematic cultivation, ‘ 
lam convinced that were modern methods of culti 
vatiou adopted, pulping machinery employ ed. adeanaie 
drying sheds erected, and speedy mrans of transit 
available, a ooffee would bo produced iu this re^on 
ol the very highest olaas, commanding the topmost 
