The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1866-06-30
No.
Planting in Mexico.

.-- Planting IN Mexico.
Special CorFespondenoe New Orleans Pieayuns.l M
s3z5 80 VERA CRUz, May % 1885,.
For the benefits Of my friends in 1T Mary S
and other parts OF Louisiana, ! write you
the result Of two mohths close observation
of this country, and intercourse with many
Of the wealthiest and most successful plan
ters-
First, for a brief sketch of the natural
features of the country Mexico consists
of a series of table lands of various eleva-
tiOns above the level Of the sea. each pOsses-
sing climate peculiar to itself and VARYING
much in its productions. There is, first
what is called the hot country, extending
along the Gulf and the Pacific, as far as or
above Acapulco, and running back into the
interior until 1T -tains an elevation of 1900
feet above the sea. All this section may be
considered as nalarious and unsuited to per
sons from more northern cline Then
comes what is here termed the ss TERRA Ca
hente, extending to an elevation of 5000
feet. This belt produces. sugar, cotton, to-
bacco and corn with wonderful Insurance
Is free from tropical diseases, and possessed
Of a climate the most delightful In the world
To afford some idea of the cane fields
viii state that | visited, two weeks since, n
hacIenda adjoining the city Of OrizaBa, and
saw cane which was planted FIVE years since,
which had been cut every. year, had never
been cultivated after the first few months,
and which now covers the ground so thickly
as to be absolutely impenetrable The roll
ling season lasts all the year, and the canes
saw at the mill was about seven feetin height
and an inch and half in diameter Itis
difficult to form any estimate Of the produc-
ton, because they have no certain measure
ment as land in this country, smaller than
leagues, but 1 should judge it to be from six
thousand to eight thousand pounds to the
acre. The sugar which is all of about the
same grade of Louisiana clarified, sells
readily at Il to Ice per pound 1 have seen
no cotton fields, but the price of Texas mid
ding, IN the City of Mexico two weeks
since, was 45c- of course, when l mention
dollars and cents, l mean silver, which is
the only currency here Tobacco, which is
extensively, but rudeiy cultivated, yields tre-
mendOusly- Corn meets with a ready sale
at prices varying from so cents to 81 a bushel
Coffee is certainly a very remunerative crop,
but [ have heard so many opinions in re-
gard TO it, that l am unable to reconcile them.
As to fruits and vegetables there are none
known to man which viii not grow in some
parts of the TERRA Caliente, although, of
course, apples, and fruits of that class, do
not attain such perfection as elsewhere The
TERRA Caliente extends along the southeast
ern and western slope Of the mountains
which enclose the great table-land of Mexico,
embracing the southern portions OF the State,
of San Luis PotOsi, and a strip through Ia
mauliuas Tlascala, Vera Cruz, Oaxaca,
Guerrero and Michoacan. There are mil
lions Of acres uncultivated, and on which
the underground is so thick, that compared
to it. the cane-brakes of the Mississippi are
highways.
The third division we have noted is the
fol Ia Ion Of 4ba
cling a few miles this side of Puebla and ex-
tending northwardly to Chihuahua. Puebla
is over 5000 feet above the sea, and is about
an average of the elevation Of the "plains.
The atmosphere of all this section Is rarifed,
to a degree which renders it uncomfortable,
and the productions of the soil assiInilate to
those Of Tennessee and Kentucky. Wheat
and barley are the staples, and they are only
raised by means of irrigation
Considering that the TERRA Caliente is the
only portion of the Empire suited to the
habits and tastes of LOuisianians, ] viii not
occupy your space by further remarks in re-
ference to the rest of the country, but give
you some facts as to the most desirable To-
calities, the class who should come, and
when and what they should bring with them.
No one should come here without making
up their minds to hard work; nor unless they
| are machinists or carpenters, should they
come without means to start with---at least
twenty dollars per acre for all the land they
desire to acquire Even should they procure
lands from The Government, or at the Gov
| ernment price; l. e. 81 per acre, 1t will cost
from ten to twelve dollars per acre to clear
and reduce it to cultivation. Then, there are
all the improvements to make In the way of
buildings Fencing is not necessary, as no
stock are allowed to run at large. No one
should think Of bringing their families here
without making arrangements beforehand as
to where they will settle, and what they will
do. Travelling here Is exorbitantly expen-
sive, and the expense Is much increased by
having heavy baggage. Lastly, no one should
come without means to return, at least FOR
the present, as what might suit the taste OF
one would not those Of another.
As to when EN- grants should come, /
should say, that for the present none should
come except persons of some capital, as the
rainy season has now commenced, and it viii
be difficult to travel about and see the country.
1t viii also be impossible for emigrants to
put up their buildings nefore the close Of the
rainy season, say, from the middle to the
last Of October. p. H. THOMSON.
The Probable Ha,. en- Europe There