AGRICULTURE. The chief crops of the fertile coast valleys arc sugar, cotton, and coffee. In 1903, 370,050 acres of these irrigated lands were in sugar-cane, which is grown to perfection, 12.5 tons of cane yielding a ton of sugar, the great ex port crop, and the basis of agricultural pros perity. The unoccupied land capable of produc ing sugar is measurable only by the possibilities of irrigation. Cotton is indigenous, and that grown in the northern provinces is distinctive (tree cotton), the plant often reaching a height of 20 feet and producing for 7 to 10 years, the fibre ranging in color from pure white to dark brown. This cotton is especially valued for mix ing with fine wool. to which it adds strength, lus tre, and protection against shrinkage. Its value is greater than that of any other cotton except ing American sea island. The ordinary staple grown in the coast valleys farther south is adapted for spinning fine yarns. Extensive irri gation works both north and south are now be ing developed to enlarge the area of cotton cul ture, and the product is steadily increasing. Rice and tobacco are important crops, and there are several large establishments for the prepara tion of rice for market. Maize and alfalfa (lu
cerne). vegetables, and fruits of all kinds are cultivated in every valley. Grape culture is in creasing, and the production of wine is impor taut. Olives are grown in the south, and there arc many profitable grazing farms in the coast valleys. In the valleys and to some extent on the plateaus of the Andean region wheat and barley ripen, the potato is a very successful crop, and the cultivation of coffee is a growing industry. The cultivation of the cacao-tree is especially successful in the valley of the Pe'rene River in the Montana, where 200.000 trees were recently added to the plantations. In 1901, 107 tons of cacao were exported. Over 1500 tons of rubber are annually shipped from the Alontafia, whose other chief products are cinchona, dyes, and medicinal substances, all the exports going down the Amazon from Iquitos. The coca-tree thrives hest near the Pacific. in the Department of La Libertad, where in 1901 there were 2.700,000 trees, the exports being 610 tons of coca and 10.69 tons of cocaine.