The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-03-24
AMONG THE AZTECs.
Curious Modes of, ,AgricuIture.-
Mines 0nd Mining.
From our Western Correspondent.

tudy. This letter will be devoted to
living your readers some idea of their
labits of life and their modes of agri-
ulture. The Mesilla valley from
which this city takes, it's name is one
# the most famous in New Mexico for
is agricultural products. 1t extends
llong the Rio Grande for seventy-five
niles and having an elevation of 1000
ieet the air is permeated with electric
ty and ozone, making it sanitarium
which is visited by thousands affected
with asthma, bronchial and pulmonary
diseases. The climate is superb, the
never reaching zero.
Snow rarely whitens the earth, and
hot and sultry nights are unknown.
To an Eastern traveller the novel sights
and experiences he encounters are so
full of interest that he is 10th to depart
from this land of the Aztecs. 1 came
here "in the full of harvest time"
when this beautiful valley along the
Rio Grande was yellow as gold with
its carpet of ripened cereals. Since
then / have learned much by being
brought into contact with the people
of this foreign country, who until with
in few months have been 50 isolated
and shut out from the outside world as
to know nothing of its modes, styles
and modern civilization. Let me show
your readers picture of this valley.
On either side grand old mountains
rear their peaks high up into heavens
pure ether. Coursing 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 the Rockies, and continues
southwark through the whole length
of the territory. just there on its
bank is gathered a large number OF
Mexicans bedecked in gay and bright
array Hilarity and mirth reign queen
of the hour. Men and women join in
dances and strange sports. \ little
distance 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 har-
vest has been abundant. At a little
distance to the left the process OF
threshing out the grain is going on.
Shades of Coronado! How ntfuua-
ted! A circular enclosure is made by
driving poles side by side close together
into the earth. The hard ground has
been swapt clean, and the wheat to be
threshed is spread upon it. Within
are dozen goats and as many children
who are shouting and laughing and
driving the frightened animals round
and round the arena, while now and
then a halt is made to allow the mas
ter of the harvest to turn over the
straw, when off again seamper the
goats and children. This is kept up
for several days when the straw is re-
moved and the plump grain gathered
into bowl-shapeds grass baskets, to be
picked over, winnowed and cleaned by
the women. The harvest time is al
ways gay season, and all the young
people join in the festivities. Now let
me show you one of their agricultural
implements. You will, L fear, laugh,
but you must not let them see you, for
these are Il sensitive and unforgiving
people.
Here is plow, long beam, to one
end of which is hitched a single steer
or OK, while the other end of which is
off for handle. Fastened
to it about midway in slopiDg posi-
ton, is a stick pointed at the lower
end, which scratches up the fertile
and mellow soil. This is the chief
implement of Mexican agriculture.
Imagine it, you farmers on the prairies
who ride upon your sulky plows and
sow your wheat with drills. This con-
dition of things, however, is likely
soon to change, to be superseded by
American Implements. The fertility
and magnificent climate of the Rio
Grande valley, the great demand for
products, owing to the ad-
vent of the A. Il. & $. f r. r., is set
tling 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 visited in the West. The
vast mineral interests and the mining
camps are creating great demand
for cereals and vegetables. Fruit grows
here luXuriantly and is found in great
abundance. Apples, pears. pIums, ap-
ricots: ounces, figs, pomegranates
and all small fruits are grown in great
perfection. The grape was introduced
by the Spaniards long years ago.
/ never tasted such luscious fruit
and the clusters rivaled those of Es.
chol in size and beauty. This surely
is the garden spot of the southwest
Mines in this region are being rapidly
developed aud the wealth of yield
found is wonderful. The excitement
is like tn furor over the early discover.
les in California, a nd many miner is
going back to his eartern home in a
few years with his pockets full of coin
and healthy bank account. Iwould
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. +. S. p.
Assassins in England.
LONDON, March 17.-At midnight
the policemen Oh duty in the Mansion