Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-04-03
MEXICAN FARMING.

A correspondent OF tue 81 Aou'S No'
publican, writing from the American camp
near Sal,illo, gives the following descrip'
ton of Mexican farming:-
The farming utensils Of the Mexicans are OF
the rudest possible description. II 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
used by Cortez, at the conquest, in the sixteenth
century, are used at this day in Mexico.
Riding, on the 10Th Of December, up the
valley in which Parras is situated, | came TO
field where they were sowing wheat The
sower was sowing the wheat broadcast on the
unplowed ground. Twenty three plows followed
each other, on the same land, blowing the wheat
10. A confluence for a harrow, leveled the
ground after the plows. Each pillow was drawn
by two oxen. The pows were Of the same
pattern used by the Romans two thousand years
since. They were made Of the fork OF small
tree. one prong Of which answered for the beam,
and was cut long enough to fasten the oxen to;
the other prong was cut off 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 plow-lock,
stock and barrel. When a forked tree cannot
be found, The short stick is morticed into the
long one. lne snoit prong was uie SouiloI-
the long one the~heam. This was fastened by
raw.hide thong, 10 the ox.yoke, which, in turn,
was fastened in front Of, and TO the horns Of the
oxen, by another raw hide thong. The handle
was held by peon, who was armed in the other
hand with 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 plows have the coulter shod
with piece Of iron, resembling bull tongue,
eight inches long, and laperng from thence to
two inches at the point. This is the greatest
improvement made upon the pillow.
The ground is never thoroughly broken up,
and is only scratched into burrows few inches
deep. Efforts have been made TO introduce bet
ter plows. and some have been brought from the
United States. But the Mexicans did not like
to use them. They were soon broken or thrown
aside as useless because no one would plow
with them.
The harrow was as simple a contrivance as tho
plough, and consisted Of single stick Of square
timber, the size Of jost, fastened in two places
with raw hide rope to keep it square 10 the
! front, and drawn by yoke OF oxen 10 level the
ground.
The metate, or stone corn mill, used for pre-.
pairing tortillas are the same article that was
used by the Indians at the first conquest of
Mexico.
Their hoes are clumsy, rough machines, de.
cdedly worse than the meanest hoe in Old Vir-
ginia-and that is about as bad character as
know how to give them.
Their axes are long and clumsy, with blades
about three inches wide, and resemble the upper
part Of pick axe or grubbing. hoe. 1t looks
remarkable that they should ever be able to peck
tree down with one. The great superiority
Of the American axe is so evident, that some
ventursome persons have commenced the use Of
them.
| Mexican cart is the most unique OF all their
inventions. 1t has not piece Of iron in it or
about it. 1t is constructed entirely Of wood and
raw hide. The axle tree is rough hewed log,
rounded at the ends. The wheels are made of
knoty live oak, two feet and half through the
hub, and trimmed down TO seven inches in the
tread. Two slabs Of the same width are pinned
on to the centre piece, 10 give rotundty to the
Wheel heavy tongue is mortced into the axle,
and has wooden pin inserted through the upper
end, by which to fasten it to the yoke. The
body is made of wooden poles, inserted into
round sapplings eight feet long. This is used
for hauling wood, &c. When they wish 10 hau!
corn, corn stalks are placed across the wooden
poles and lashed tightly to them, with strips Of
raw hide. When wheat or sheled corn is 10 be-
carried, they line the inside of the stalk bed with
mating made Of the palmilla, which resembles
the material Of which gunny bags are made.
Tbs OK yoke is piece Of timber five inches
wide and three inches thick, slightly indented
near each end This is lied in front Of, and across
the horns, with piece Of tough raw hide
Another piece lastens the yoke tightly 10 the
tongue OF the cart. A second yoke of cattle is
usually fastened to the call. A strong rope of
raw hide, of sufficient length, fastens their woke
to the tongue Of the cart.
The driver moves along by the side of the cart.
sometimes on foot and sometimes riding an uelv
Ill.nalured looking mustang, with long OK gosd
in his band. He uses this very freely, and when
he wishes to "fle left" he pops his goad into the
off OK, who screws his tail and runs around bis
fellow, and changes the direction OF the cart
They move more briskly than American oxen
This is no WONDER for they are taught to "walk
Spanish"
They haul very large loads in these carts, and
travel as fast as horse teams usually do on Jour.
ney.
A Mexican frequently carries his wife and
children in these carts. He then puts raw hide
on the bottom, 10 keep the children from fslIino
through, and puts another over the top for cove1
when, in crawls the whole family. As soon
; as "all's set" he Kisses at his oxen. az bsar
hunter would do when close on bruiD. and 81
starts the whole continuance, with full band Of
road music. ~
Some ladies in the United States seem N be
fond oil travelling in stages and railroad cars with
squalling children. to the great annoyance of
their fellow passengers. | would advise spcb
by all means, to try a Mexican cart for ho,uo,'"'