The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1860-03-23
PAYABLE IN ADVANCE.
VOLUME FII:---NO. II.
FOR THE iH:tErtSbESr PRESS.
THE AGAvE AMERICANA: OR mFx1cAN
MAGUEY

MAGUEY.
During my residence in Mexico availed
mysel! of the opportunity to learn many in
tereslng facts with regard to the method
of culture ard the domestic uses of,he Mex
'can Maguey. Next to our great ;55outhcst
staple, know Of no other vegetable pro-
duct'on, which supplies ~ once t he various
wan'sof tile inhabitants, a at tic s,met,inlc
enters into al'mcst every branch ofin,lrstry
and manufacture. 1t conttitutcs the chicf
income Of many Of the laGd prorrctors; who
devote immense tracts and even large estates
almost wholly to It's cul;ivation 1t flour.
'st'es equally as WELL on the high arid table
lands of Pucbla or the mos; alu;yiaI soils CT
the valleys Of Mexico. On elevated lands
beyond the sncans of irrigation the cyces
s've heat and long prutraclcd drought, i'm
pe!s the roots Of The Ma.ucy to draw its
sustenance many feet beneath the s;,rfaoc.
1t requires little or no cultivation aFie;
being planted, as nothing else will scarcely
regetate IA llic arid soils it seems to delight
IN. The plants are set oat eight feet apart
after having previously lain Tor several laHHS
exposed TO the sun; seven years being re-
1nired to perfect their growth. \ single
! plant when fully maturcd is valued at eighty
dollars. A field of ten acres @ohld bc
worth $4,000. In some localities the Ma
gucy is chiefly used for hedges, in which
case they are allowed to bloom undiSturbe,l.
The main stem rises 10 Tie height Of twenty
feet, with rs many subordinate stems OF
branches, leaving on each large yellow
bloom or collection Of Howcrcts resembling
the common sun-Aowcr.
The stem, which is hollow or filled With
p'h, Is. made use of in the CONSTRUCTION Sf
the huts Of tho Poems or laborcrs. 4 full
grown Magucv would Of itself cover ali al e..
OF twenty square feet. In setting theth o,iL
IT Is unnecessary 10 make full provision for
the leaves which are longitudinal and readl-
| ~ lind vacant stace CGr Intersection. The
leaves vary from three to ten feet in length;
! they dlverge from the parent stem, and arc
armed with d multitude ofimpcrvious thorns
which renders them so invaluable for hedges
| The Poems are compelled to cut path.
through the Fields that they may he enabled
TO visit the plants during the season Of bear
ing. Prior to the period OF blooming, the
operation of collecting the sap or puluus
commences. The heart OF the full grown
plants is taken out, and small cavity ex4
! cavatcd after which the leaves are bent over
| It, to shelter it from tile weather. In a
few days the sap commences to flow in At
tn; rate o. foar quarts per day, fnt four
years, when it bccories exhausted and dies.
The mother trunk is then exhurnei and
dried, in the sun, and furnishes an excellent
substitute, for fuel, while a new plant or sci.
on taken fro.ii a vigorous plailt IS replaced,
in its stead. And thus field Of Magney is
pernetuatcd.
Morning and noon Pecn visits the fields
to collect the pulque, and Sometimes re-
scarifying the cavities to induce ~ reflow of
sap. On his back ho carries u waer-tight
vessel, enclosed in net WORK; which is Sc
cured by leather strap. passing around lis
forehead, ant! into which the fluid is emptied
when drawn from the plant by means of IA
long rdshaying small oriIice at each
end. The operation being greatly faciita.
ted 10y the suction OF the lips. After the
sap is collected, it is conveyed to open shells
and placed in large tubs lined With raw-hide
10 allow it 10 fernicnt. When ne.ly taken
from the plant, it has n sweet Taste ,cscm-
bling freshly drawn milk; if drank in this
state it acts as a powerful t;:.lharIi... In
! about twelve hours it undcrgocs complete
fermentation. rendering it one of the most
delightful beverages ;n .l,e world. When
tho sap is four days old it beco mes rory
and has disagreeable flavor resulting from
slight pu,rescency. The lower class Of
natives esteem it mere highly thcn for it's
greater Intoxicating qualities and get drunk
on it every day. When it has Gnne ,krousl,
ITS drst stage of efers' sccncc, i, Is put up it,
skins, conveyed to the nearest market on
the backs Of animals and sold ~ the pro-
prietors Of the pulqne shops who retail. it
to their customers at the rate of IL cluco, u
drink, or little more than one cent per
glass.
A delightful beverage, made of pine ap-
pie juice and pulqne, called "Puiauc Lo.
i'oentd," is also re.ailel from the Shops
The higher class are more fonl oft in this
way, aud seldom sit down to dine without
having it upon their tables. Pulque.i if put
up in corked bottles improves with age.
when it rivals the most delicious wines, and
the best chaIhpagne IS far inferior 10 it. If
drank in moderate quantities it promotes
s'iigestion, and general healthy action Of the
system. If used inmoderateiv it causes in.
corpulency without the enervatihe effects Of
other stimulants Uf Tue fibtes Of the leasves
nearly al! the rppins bagging, sewing thread
orooIns, brushes, and mattresses used In the
country, is madv. Besides immense ouan-
titles Of &hiskey, brandy and other spiriits is
elaborated from the sap. The fecula of the
stem may De made into soap and sugar while
the hnest paper is manufactured from lhe
inner covering Of the leaves.
Almost the first object that attracted nv
attention on my arrival at Pueba was tho
small red Gags hung obliquely from the
doors in certain localities, which found on
examination, to be the emblematic sign Of r
Putqperia or drinking house. The scenes
OF violence and blood shed so often enacted