The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-07-17
From the Farmer and Mechanic.
The Agriculture of Mexico

hind the general progress of civilization in
the present age, and Judging from the fire.
qucnt and well written accounts recently re-
celVed rom authentic sources Of the general
state oil the country, the customs, manners,
arts, &c. of the people, their advancement
from primitive simplicity and ignorance is
small; and although possessing one of the
most favorable climates and eenerally pro-
ductiye soils for agriculture, il is a science by
tile inhabitants but little understood, 1t is
said they are opposed TO every change that
can be introduced among them, which tends
| TO their improvement in this respect, their
farming utensils being of the rudest possible
description; the same kind us those which
were used by Cortez at the conquest, in the
sixteenth century, being used at this day in
this country
| The principal agricultural productions of
the greater portion ofMeXico, are sugar, corn
and cotton, the latter of which grows with
luXuriance, the stalk being never killed by
the cold winter, and it might be proftably
cultivated, if there was demand for il,
which, however, is not the case, there being
no mills or manufactures for it in the coun-
try.
Corn grows well, and yields abundantly.
Two crops oft are made in year, ifthe oc-
cupant of the ground is not too lazy to tend it.
| The first is planted in March and gathered
in June and July. The second is planted in
July or first of August and gathered in No
vember aud December.
writer from the army observes ''Whcn
we arrived al MoncloVa, the LIST ofN ovenIuur,
roasting ears and green fodder were abund-
ant for our selves aud horses, from the sec
ond crop. This is the principal crop of the
year, as il is less liable to injury from the vi
cssitudes ofthe weather than the frs: crop.
The yield ofcorn is about fifty bushels TO
Tho -, lI.,l E,ll
the quantity would be increased very consid-
erably. The stalk grows to an enormous
height. have often seen them around Mon
clova SO tall, that when sitting on my horse
which is full sixteen hands high, could not
reach the ears ofcorn.
1t might not be profitable to plant corn in
the fall; but there is wide range from Feb
ruary to August to put it into the ground
and still have good crop.
Sugar grows finely and only needs q lit
tie care and adequate machinery to enable
the inhabitants to produce large quantities
oft, It is not grained as with us, but when
in syrup is run into moulds resembling small
loavcs ofsugar, called pjLomceS, weighing u
bout pound.
Beyond Monciova, however, where the
country becomes more elevated, sugar can
not be produced to much advantage.
Wheat may he raised in Mexico with great
facility, and although in latitude % deg. aud
26 min, several hundred miles further south
than Louisiana, where the grain cannot be
produced, it is grown 10 perfection. So are
apples and peaches. This is owing to the
elevation ofIhc country above the level ofthe
sea.
At Cinegas a village fifty miles west of
AloncIova, large quantities ofeXcellent wheat
are raised. There are two hourishing mills
at Monclova propelled by the stream which
passes through the town. The flour, howev-
er is inferior TO that Of this country, the best
Mexican not being so fine or equal in appear
ance TO that of the American article.
Oats and rye are not grown in MeXico;har- |
ley, however,grows finely, and might be pro-
duced in large quantities.
Nearly all descriptions of vegetables grow
finely. With most kinds n person may Sc
cct his own time for planting, Fresh peas,
lettuce, beans, Sc.,may he had the year round !
by planting them repeatedly. Peas six inch |
es in length, were growngat Purras, the 10th |
of December which were planted for win |
ter crop. As tho climate is SO proptious,
and all plants have to be reared by irrigation, |
planter or gardner may select his own time |
for planting.
The same writer says, "Riding on the 10Th |
of Dec. up the valley in which Parras is situ-
ated, came TO Il field where they were SOW
ing wheat. The sowcr was sowing the wheat |
broadcast on The unploughed ground. Twen-
ty three ploughs followed each other, on the !
same land, ploughing the wheat in. A con-
TlYance for harrow loveled the ground af- |
I tut ano Ploughs; Every plough was drawn
ny Two oxen; Inc P,oughs were OF the same
pattern used ny the Romans two thousand
years since. lhey were made OF the fork OF
q O., sum, h .ree, one prong OF winch answered
t c 'ne peail'' ana was cut long enough to
l', as inc oxen 70; the other prong was cut
on "oout lour leet long, ana sharpened at