New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1881-03-30

the thermometer never reaching zero.
Snow rarely whitens the earth, and
hot and sultry nights are unknown,
10 an Eastern traveller the novel
sights and experiences he encounters
are SO full of interest that he is loath
to depart from thisland of the Aztecs.
l came here Sin the full of harvest
time, when this beautiful valley OF
the Rio Grande was yellow as gold
with its carpet of ripened cereals.
Since then l have learned much by
being brought into contact with the
people of this foreign country, who
until within few months have been
so isolated and shut out from the out.
side world as to know nothing of its
modes, styles and modern civilization.
Let me show your readers a picture
Of this valley. On either side grand
old mountains rear their peaks high
up into heavens pure ether. Cours.
ing along at our feet in sluggish quiet
rolls the Historic Rio Grande which
rises in Colorado, runs into New
Mexico between the two chains OF
Rockies, and continues southwark
through the whole lenghth of the Ter.
ritory. Just there on it's banks is
gathered a large number of Mexicans,
bedecked in gay and bright array.
Hilarity and mirth rule queen of the
hour. Men and women join in dan.
ces and strange sports. A little dis
lance away a gay fandango is going
on to the time of monotonous music
We approach and in our ''half-grown
Spanish ask why this merry making
and are told that it is the ''harvest
festival. The God of the Aztecs
has smiled upon the cereals and the
harvest has been abundant. AT a
little distance to the left the process
of threshing out the grain is going on
Shades of Coronado! How antiquated!
A circular enclosure is made by driv-
ing poles side by side close together
into the earth. The hard ground has
been swept clean and the wheat to be
threshed is spread upon it. Within
are dozen goats and as many chill.
dren who are shouting and laughing
and driving the frightened animals
round and round the arena, while
now and then halt is made to allow
the master of the harvest to turn over
the straw, when off again scamper
the goats and children. This is kept
up for several days when the straw is
removed and the plump grain gather
ed.into bowl.shaped grass baskets, to
be picked over, winnowed and clean.
ed by the women. The har-
vest time is always gay season, and
all the young people join in the festi-
-vities. Now let me show you one of
their agricultural implements. You
will, I fear, laugh but you must not
let them see you for these are sem
sitive and unforgiving people.
Here is Il pillow, long beam, to
one end Of which is hitched a single
OK or steer, while the other end is
smoothed off for a handle. Fastened
to it about midway in shopping posi-
ton, is stick, pointed at the lower
end, which scratches up the fertile
and mellow soil. This is the main i'm
plement of the Mexican agriculture.
Imagine it, you farmers on the prair.
les who ride upon your sulky plows
and SOW your wheat with drills. This
condition of things, however, is soon
likely to change, to be superseded by
American implements. The fertility
and magnificent climate Of the Rio
Grande valley, the great demands for
agricultural products, owing to the ad-
vent of the A. T. & S. F. R. r. is
settling this valley with a better class
of farmers who will not only open the
eyes of the Mexicans but make for.
tunes for themselves. 1 had sooner
own good farm, and they can be-
had for song, in this valley than any
place have seen in the west. The
vast mineral interest and the mining
camps are creating a great demand
for cereals and vegetables. Fruit
grows here luxuriantly and is found
in great abundance. Apples, pears,
plums, apricots, ounces, figs, pome
granates and all small fruits are
grown in great perfection. The
grape was introduced by the Span
iards long years ago.
never tasted such luscious fruit
and the clusters rivaled those of Els.
chol in size and beauty. This surely
is the garden spot Of the Southwest.
Mines in this region are being rapidly
developed and the wealth Of yield
found is wonderful. The excitement
is like the Juror over the early discov-
cries in California, and many miner
is going back to his eastern home in
few years with his pockets full Of coin
and healthy bank account. would
advise any young man who has nerve
and grit to come to New Mexico.
More fortunes will be made here in
the next few years than in any other
locality in America.
F.S. P.