Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1847-06-01
Mexican Agriculture.

publican, writing from Buena Vista, near
Saltillo, Feb 10, gives the following des-
cription of Mexican agriculture, which, as
will be seen, is yet in very primitive
state:
"'The chiefagriealtural productions from
the Preside TO Monelovia, are corn, sugar
and cotton of the latter not much is
grown, as there are no gins or factories
and bu, little demand for it. 1t grows
finely, the stalk being never killed by the
cold of winter. 1t might be probably
cultivated, if there was demand for it.
Sugar grows finely, and only needs a
little care and adequate machinery to en-
able the inhabitants to produce large
quantities oft. 1t is not grained as with
us, but when in syrup is run into moulds
resembling small loaves of sugar, called
pilonces, weighing about one 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. TIE second
is planted in July or the 1st of August, and
gathered in November and December
When we arrived at Monclovia, the 1st of
November, roasting ears and green fodder
were abundant for ourselves and horses,
from the second crop. This is the princi
pal crop of the year, as it is less liable to
Injury from the vcissitudes of the weather
than the first crop The yield 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 length.
[ have seen them often around Monclovia
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 Monclovia, wheat is
grown. The country begins to be elevated,
and beyond it, sugar cannot be proftably
raised.
A well known physiological fact is con-
tinually presented to notice that is, that
latitude alone does not govern the produc-
ton. Wheat cannot he raised, proiitably,
in Louisiana. Yet, here, in latitude %
and 26 deg, several hundred miles farther
south than Louisiana, it is grown to per-
fiction. So are apples and peaches. This
is owing to the elevation OF the country
above the level Of the sea.
At Cienegas, a village fifty miles west
of Monclovia, large quantities of excellent
wheat are raised. There are two flour.
ing mills at Monclovia, propelled by the
stream which passes through the town.
The best Mexican -four is not equal in
appearance to the American article. 1t
is generally sold without being bolled at
all, We use large quantities of this IN
bolted -four in the army. 1t makes very
sweet, paIatable, and healthy brown
bread. It's, however, hard to take down,
and the soldiers generally dislike to use it,
as they said they did not like to be ted on
so much bran, to so little flour.
The Mexicans keep small sleeves III their
houses, to separate the bran from the flour.
1t then makes light bread, and l must
say,I have never eaten sweeter bread than
is made by the bakers in Monclovia and
Parras.
Oats and rye are not grown in Mexico.
Corn is moi generally fed to horses. When
they are fed with grain at all, it is gener-
ally with barley, which grows finely. But
little of it is raised however.
Nearly all descriptions of vegetables
grow fnely, With most kinds, person
may select his own time for planting
Fresh peas, lettuce, beans, &C., may be
had the year round, by planting them re.
peatedly. saw peas six inches in length
growing at Arras, the 10Th December,
which were planted for a winter crop, As
the climate is SO propitious and all plants
have to be raised by irrigation, planter
or gardner may select his own time for
planting.
It might not be profitable to plant corn
in The fall but there is wide range from
February to August, to put into the ground
and still have good crop.
Oranges grow beautifully and magnifi-
Gently; but to our great disappointment,
they are all of the sour kind. Sweet or
anges are cultivated farther south, and in
lower plains and valleys, near the sea
coast.
An execution to be levied on Irish po.
tatoes, if sent into Mexico, would be le.
turned, "not found in the bailiwick. -
They cannot be profltably raised. By the
aid ofa search warrant, and a magnifyIng
glass, did find few in Saliillo. They
were the size OF marbles and pigeons eggs,
and were flittle account TO eat.
Pumpkins and a variety of squashes,
grow abundantly, and are much used
As a general thing, Tery few vegetables
are used by the Mexicans, except red
pepper.
The farming utensils of the Mexicans
are ofthe rudest description. X has been
well said. that they seem to be opposed to
change of every kind, except in their gov
ernors and government. The same uten-