Norwich bulletin., 1913-06-10

Before recent meeting of the Preston City Grange the following paper on Agriculture in Peru by Lu- ther K. zabrisl1ie of Preston vice consul at Callao. Peru. was heard with much interest. He writes:
 NothwithsS! nding Peru Is tropi- cal coutry in a geographical sense. the climate of the coast zone, which is
 most densely populated, is extremely
 mild. the temperature rarely falling below 54 or rising above 86, and storms are quite unknown. The three dis tinct zones of the Coast, the Sierra and the Montana have almost noth | ing in common, but all are seats of agricultural industries.
 A large part of the coast of Peru is arid, these areas being cut through by 5 rivers, the cultivated area of the valleys watered by these streams be- ing above 100000 acres, of whicn tWo dfths of this land is now irrigated and in use. The sandy soil is of the most fertile in the world. Not being washed out by the rains, it retains many natural chemical clements which in other countries have to be supplied.
 In the coast regions the cool night air pernstt the growth of leaany temp crate fruits and vegetables. Higher up, in the Sierra, are produced the are indigenous to Peru. and grown here in better varieties than anywhere else in the world. There Is little ex- port of these products. as barely enough Is produced to satisfy the needs of the country, and transporta- ton is too costly to afford much in duceInent fer expansion. small mount is shipped into Bolivia from southern Peru.
 In the Sierra the temperature rare ly falls below 40 or rises above 76F. The grains. principally wheat, barley, and varieties of corn. are grown on the slopes and plateaus of the Andes, with splendid coffee, tobacco, and many vegetables and fruits. The rainfall av- erages from 50 inches per annum in the upper and reaches to over 120 inches In the lower portions on the Atlantic slope, diminishing to prac- tically nothing on the coast side. In some of the upper plateaus snow falls at rare interN als, while if is continu- ally present on the high peaks, and. melting, feeds the numerous lakes and gives rise to the river systems.
 In the Montana, which name Is ap- piled to the Atlantic slope of the An des below the altitude of about 5000 feet, exists the most extensive system of navigable rivers in the world, feed ing the Amazon and carrying traffic within 25O miles of the Pacific. The climate is salubrious and the soil Is fertile The area may be taken at 250, ,000 square miles. mainly forests. In this domain the rubber lands are included. At present railway com munication (which is being provided) is the essential, for there are no other outlets than the 5000 mile jour ney to the Atlantic via the Amazon, or the mule back trip to the railway terminal, 12,000 and 14,000 feet up the mountain range. It is of this region that Raimondi, the famous explorer and geographer. said: Nature in this zone has displayed all it's creative force, infinitely varying the capricious forms the brilliant colors, and the soft perfumes Of its productions.
 The sugar crop harvested in 1910 is the largest ever produced in the Republic. It is estimated that the cane ground on about 50 plantations amounted to 165. 900 tons of sugar, or an increase of some 5000 tons as compared with the previous year.
 Sugar growing is carried on princf- pally or the coast regions, the total area devoted to the industry being about 220.000 acres During the last , years the movement has been to- ward the esta hlishment of arge es- tates. The smaller estates are being leased or purchased. and the cane grown on them ground at the home factory. A few of the larger estates