San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-09-07
The Floating Gardens Of Mexico. and the
Gardens OF Brazil.
Boston Transcript


Through all their Arab-like wander
ings, wherever they abided for time,
the Aztecs were wont to cultivate the
soil; and where settled-frequently
environed by barbarous enemies, as
they were-in the midst OF great
lake where fish were remarkably scarce,
they devised the ingenious expedient
Of forming floating gardens and fields
and orchards on the surface Of the tran.
quill waters. These they wrought skill
fully of the roots of aquatic plants
woven together, wreathed and inter.
twined with branches and twigs, till
they had secured foundation of suf-
ficient solidity to support the soil, COM
posed Of earth substances from the
bottom of the lake.
Ordinarially these floating gardens
were elevated about foot above the
surface of the water, and were of OBJ
long shape; and, in due time were
adorned with vegetation, comprising
countless varieties of flowers, vines and
shrubs, presenting raft-like fields, or
gliding gardens O. marvellous beauty
and luxuriance. These famed chinapas
along the Viga Canal, finally became
attached to the mainlands comprising
the grounds situated between the two
great lakes of Uhelco and Tetzenco.
Little trenches filed with water seem
to separate the gardens, and miniature
bridges connect them with the main
land. The Indian proprietor dwells in
an humble hut, situated in the midst of
his floating fields. From March to
June the latter are one mass of floral
beauty--a fowery sea, in which the
many varieties of the rose prevails,
while other flowers add their varid tints
and perfumes, prominent among which
are varigated garlands of CARNATIONS,
peoples, sweetpeas, jessamine and other
gifts of the magnificent fora of Mexico.
When the City OF. Mexico was taken
by the Spaniards under Cortes, in 1921,
it occupied several islands in Lake
Tetzenco. The water, from various in
fuences, chiefly volcanic, has since re-
coded, and the city, although still re-
tanning it's ancient site, is now two
miles and half distant from the lake.
At the time of the Spanish conquest,
it presented, however, vely much the
appearance of Venice'-"a city in the
sea, throned on her hundred isles
the margins of whose broad and
narrow canal-streets were in many
places lined with splendid manshions.
According to ancient Spanish history,
the native Mexicans had at that time at
tanned high degree of perfection in
various arts, for which they do not ap-
pear to lave been in any degree in
debted to the civilization the Old
w rid, and which must have been an
outgrowth of indigenous talent. Els
pecially in the cultivation of the soil,
by which the fruits and flowers of the
tropical region were developed, were
the native Mexicans highly skilled.
The fertility of these floating gardens
owing to the abundant advantages al
forded for moisture, was very remarka'
BILE, and the early chroniclers describe
them as literally covered with flowers
and fruit. The city of Mexico is still
to great extent. supplied from float
ing gardens with fruit, vegetables and
the choicest floral productions, consti
tuting an industry from which is de-
rived the sole support of the inhabit
ants of some of the villages situated OF
the shores of the lake, who are, indeed
the defendants of the aboriginal race
who fell victims of the treachery Of
Cortes. Two of these villages, SAINTS
Anita and Ixtaculco, New Mexico. are
noted for their beautiful flowers, and
at certain seasons, when their floating
, gardens are in full bloom, they are
favorite resorts for pleasure parties o.
the citizens.
The region of Entre-Rios, in Brazil
has many noble gardens. The mag
nifcent bay of Gannamara, along thu
shore of which the public PasseiC
stretches for a considerable distance
has been celebrated for its beauty evel