Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-04-30

habitants to produce large quantities OF it. IL
is not grained as with us, but when in syrup Is
run into moulds resembling small loaves of loaf
sugar, called plonccs, weighing about pound.
Corn grows well and yields abundantly. Two
crops of it are made in year, If the occupant 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 LIST
August, and gathered in November and De-
cember. When we arrived at Monclova, the
LIST OF November, roasting ears and green ioduer
were abundant for ourselves and horses IRON the
second CROP This is the principal crop OF the
year. as it Is less liable to injury from the vicis-
STUDIES of the weather than the first crop. Inc
weld of the corn is about fifty bushels to the
acre in titled field. With good culture the
quantity would be increased very considerably.
The stalks grow to an enormous height. have
seen them often around Monclova so tall, that
when sitting on my horse, which is full sixteen
hands high, could not reach the ears of corn.
In the vicinity of Monclova wheat is grown.
The country begins to be elevated, and beyond it
sugar cannot be proftably raised.
A well known physiological fact is continual
ly presented to notice: that is, that latitude
alone does not govern the production. Wheat
cannot be raised, proftably or OF good quality, IN
Louisiana. Yet, here in latitude 25 and 26 , :,
siana, it is grown to perfection. So are apples
and peaches. This is owing to the elevation of
the country abovd the level of the sea-
At Cienegas, village fifty miles west OF Mon
clova, large quantities Of excellent wheat are
raised. There are two Touring miles at Mon
clova, propelled by the stream which passes
through the town. The best Mexican flour is
not equal in appearance to the American article.
1t is generally sold without being bolted at all.
We used large quantities of this unboted flour
in the army. Itmakes very sweet, palatabe,
and healthy brown bread. tits, however, hard
to take down, and the soldiers generally disliked
to use it, as they said they did nut like to be fed
on SO much bran to so little flour.
The Mexicans keep small sleeves in their
houses, to separate the bran from the Hour: II
then makes light bread and must say have
never eaten sweeter or better light bread than is
made BY the bakers in Monclova and Parras.
Oats and rye are not grown in Mexico. Corn
is not generally fed to horses, When they are
fed with grain at all, it is usually with barley,
which grows finely but little of it is ralsed how
ever
Nearly all descriptions of vegetables grow fine
ly With most kinds, person may select
his own time for planting. Fresh peas, lettuce
BEANS &c, may be had the year round, by plan
ting them repeatedly. saw peas SIX inches IN
length growing tParras on the 10th December
which were planted for winter crop. AS the
climate is so propitious, and all plants have to
be reared BY irrigation, planter or gardener
NAV select his own time for planting
II might not be profitable to plant corn in the
fall but there is a wide range from February to
August to put it into the ground, and still have
good crop.
Oranges grow beautifully and magnificently !;
but to our great disappointment, they are all of
the sour kind. Sweet oranges are cultivated
farther South, and in lower plains and valleys,
near the sea coast.
An execution to be levied on Irish potatoes, if
sent into Mexico, would be returned, not found
it the bailiwick." They cannot be profitably
raised. BY the aid of IA search warrant and
magnifying glass, ] did find few in Saltillo.
They were the size of marbles and pigeons eggs
and were oflitte account to eat.
Pumpkins, and variety OF sqashes, grow
abundantly, and are much used. As a general
thing, very few vegetables are used by the Mex
leans, except red pepper.
FARMING UTENSILS OF THE MEXICAys.
The farming utensils of the Mexcans are of
the rudest possible description. 1t has been
we'll said, that they seem to be opposed to change
Of every kind, except in their governors and
government The same utensils which were
century, are used at this day in Mexico.
Riding. on the 10th of December, up the val
ey in which Passas is situated, | came 10 a
ield where they were sowing wheat The
.nwor was sowing the wheat broadcast on the
unplouched ground. Tweniy-three ploughs
followed each other, on the same land, plough
ing the wheat in. A continuance for harrow,
evellcd the ground after the ploug!s. Each
plough was drawn by two oxen. The ploughs
we're of the same pattern used by the Romans
two thousand wears since. They were made of
the fork of small tree, one prong OF which an
swered for the beam, and was cut long enough
to fasten the oxen to the other prong was cut
of about four feet long, and sharpened at the
end. and single stick fastened into the fork
and projecting back, made the handle. This
was the whole plough-lock, stock and barrel.
When a forked tree cannot be found, the short
stick is morticed into the long one. The short
uronp was the coulter-the long one the beam.
This was fastened by a raw-hide thong to the
ox.yokc, which, in turn, was fastened in front
oC and TO the horns of the oxen, by another
raw-bide thong. The handle was held by a
pnon, who was armed in the other hand with a
long pole, with sharp goad in the end Of it,
which he unsparingy plunged into the oxen to
quicken their speed, or To change their direction.
Some of the better ploughs have the coulter
shod with piece Of iron, resembling bull
tongue, eight inches long, and taperng from
thence to two inches at the point This is the
greatest improvement made upon the plough.
The ground is never thoroughly broken up,
and is only scratched into burrows few inches
deep Efforts have been made to introduce bet
ter ploughs, and some have been brought from
the United States $. But the Mexicans did moi
Tide to use them. They were soon broken OF
thrown aside as useless, because no one would
plough with them.
The harrow was as simple contrivance as
the plough, and consisted of single stick OF
square timber, the size of joist, fastened IN two
places with raw-hide rope to keepit square tc
the front, and drawn by yoke Of oxen to leve
the ground
! The meta,e, or stone corn-mill. used for prepa
ring toriiilas, is the same article that was nset
/ BY the Indians at the first conquest of Mexico.
Their hoes are clumsy round machines, de
cidedy worse than the meanest hoe in Old Nir
| ginia-and that is about as had character al
| | know how to give them.
Their axes are long and clumsy, with blade
about three inches wide, and resemble The uppe
part of pick-axe or grubbing-hoe. 1t look
remarkable that they should ever be able to peel
a tree down with one. The great superiorit
| of the American axe is SO evident, that som
| few venturesome persons have commenced th
use Of them.
! A Neyican cart Is the most unique OF all thei