National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-07-12
MEXICAN FARMING.

Small Gains, and Simple Hablts-The
landed Proprietors and Their Luxurious
Ways-Not Promising Field.
Number Al of the series of consular rc-
ports, now being published by tho state
department., contains an interesting arti-
clio on the commerce and industries Of
Mexico, by Gen. David II. Strothor,
United States consul general at tho City
Of Mexico. Con. Strother Is known to
the magazine readers of twenty-five years
ago as Porte Crayon," and IL may
be remarked that in his official reports
there are traces of tho delightful and
pleasant fancy which characterized his
literary productions.
We give extracts from Gen. Strother's
on Mexican agriculture. lilo
says:
TO appreciate and properly understand
the agricultural capacities and prospects
of this country IL will DO necessary to
know something Of tho people directly
engaged in tho business. These are d.
vided into two distinct classes, as different
and distant from each other in character,
methods, motives, aud results as 1t Is pos
sible for us to imagine people cu,tivating
government. One class is the independ-
emit Indian, who is in all respects a COM
munist, living in his village of adobe OF
csne-built huts, owning and cultivating
the adjacent lands in common with the
people OF his tribe, working and dividing
tho proceeds according to laws which
ante-date the Spanish conquest, and using
the same implements that were used by
his ancestors under the Montozumas.
In spite of his simple ways and primi-
two tools the aboriginal Of this country
seems to have possessed considerable skill
and to have obtained very satisfactory
results from his agriculture. He knew
when to SOW and how to gather. He
understood all about irrigation, and the
dikes and canals of former centuries still
stand as monuments Of his patient intel
ligenco. Nor was he content with the
simple necessities. He planned vast
pleasure gardens, and planted stately
parks and parterres Of gorgeous flowers.
and adorned his grounds with artificial
lakes and fish ponds.
From his Spanish conquerors the Indian
agriculturistd doubtless learned something;
notably the use of horses, asses, and mules.
But the long and cruel despotism, which
crushed out all the individual independ-
ence and dignity of the race, has left its
humiliating impress upon this as upon all
other arts practiced by the ancient Mexi-
cans. At tho present day tho Indian
agriculturist rarely accomplishes moro
than meager and miserable mainte-
nance for his family, surplus, perhaps, to
pay his taxes to the state, and his dues to
his cure, and something over in prosper
GUS seasons.
The other class is composed of the large
landed proprietors, whose establishments
are the historical feudal estates of tho old
world. These are generally men of wealth
and education, with ideas liberalized by
foreign travel and with q comprehensive
knowledge Of their business. With them
agriculture is a science and they readily
accept all improved methods, and are
ready to experiment with new ideas and
adopt any new agricultural machinery
that may be presented. The establish
ment of first.class hacienda" will cost
from $250,000 to 100000.
Tho extensive and massive buildings of
stone, adobe, and stucco, including dwell
ing,, barns, stables, cattle sheds, chapel,
and offices, are all inclosed in a heavy
wall from 20 to 30 feet in height, the
angles and the gate protected by project
ing turrets pierced for musketry. This
enceinte is frequently surrounded by a
moat, the whole having moro the aspect
of fortress than Of farm house. At
night all tho live stock of tho estate, the
proprietor and his family, his superin-
tendents, assistants, paymasters, priest,
and trained servants, with an ample
supply of provisions and arms, are gath
cred within this castellated Enclosure for
rest and shelter, and, If summoned, to
man the walls and defend the place
against tho predatory assaults of high
waymen or bands of hungry revolution
lists. These attacks. freanent enough. in
former times TO justify the defensive
precautions of these agricultural castles,
are becoming moro rare of late years,
although we still hear of them from time
to time in distant parts of the country.
The laboring poems of these estates,
secure In their poverty, generally live
outside the walled Enclosure in cane
built or adobe huts, grouped in irregular
villages, picturesquely shaded by groves
of plantains, papagas, and other tropical
fruit trees. In some instances each hut
has its patch of arabic ground attached
for the private benefit of the occupant.
Sometimes these laborers are paid per
diem, with o stipulated allowance of food.
amounting In all to about 371 cents per
day. In other haciendas they work by
the job, and frequently can earn from as
cents to 81 por day. AS agriculture can
not DO carried on in this country without
irrigation, each hacienda or cultivated
district must establish and maintain its
system (more or less COSTLY of dams and
canals, to secure and distribute the
necessary supplies of water during the
dry season, fertilizer which costs the
great proprietor considerable sums OF
money, and which the Indian commune
ties obtain by combined.and patient labor.
The lack Of adequate transportation,
which has heretofore discouraged produc-
ton, will BIO supplied by the completion
of the present and projection railroads.
The vexstious and oppressive system OF
internal and interstate duties, imposts
taxes, tolls, charges, forfeits, fines penal.
ties, and confscations, crushing to all
enterprise and ruinous to productive
industry, will also disappear before the
requirements and the commercial en-.
lightenment which accompanies an OK.
tended railroad traffic.
With the question of scarcity of water, ~
IL will require time and money to trea
successfully. This scarcity affects in a
greater or less degree all the elevated
lands In the republic and those regions
where tho climate is most healthful and
agreeable. Immense districts of country
otherwise fertile and arabic, now lie
waste and uncultivated for tho absolute
lack Of this essential element of life and
growth for seven or eight months con-
secutively. In some places artesian wells
have been tried with limited success
Near this city lands have boon proftably
irrigated by means of steam pumpine
machinery, and there is no doubt that
| "a n n l. = ;. =
stances, both these processes may be
prodtably employed to extend tho limits
of Mexican agriculture.
Nevertheless, the main reliance for such
extension must be on the natural water
supplies of tho country and climate, the
preservation and distribution of the
lakes, and summer rains. as practiced by