Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-06-11
FARMING IN MEXICO.
slovENLY AND STUPID METHODS IN
AGRICULTURE.
Finest Adobe ~ Trust Reposed In
WATERPROOF AMI Wooden Plows-A
Fine Opening for American In
yentions and Skill.

lCity of Mexico Cor. New York Post.
The poverty OF Mexico may be traced di-
rectly to the slovenly system OF farming
which is there so universal The agricul-
tural resources Of the land are enormous, as
may be sufficiently proved from the fact
that not over one-fifth of the best land on
the great plateau Is under the pillow; yet
that one-ffth supports millions OF people
with style Of farming that in California
was utterly worthless aud would produce
starvation in the best sections of New York
or Pennsylvania Vast tracts OF the finest
adobe soil on belt Of more certain and
abundant rains than any part Of the east
en- joys in summer lie yet I'm broken and used
only for stock range. In the dryer sections Of
the northern parts millions of acres that would
raise good crops in three years out OF five
and with good cultivation would raise
something in the other two, millions more
than that could be irrigated if the water
were properly distributed, as in California,
instead OF being wasted, now lie in the same
way.
OF cultivation the Mexican as a rule
knows absolutely nothing His sole concep-
ton Of the utility Of blowing is 10 scratch
up enough loose earth to cover the seed. Oc-
casionally a corn-feld is seen in which the
has been sown, but in the great majority OF
fields the ground is never touched after
planting. The sole trust after planting is re-
posed in water Ii the rainfall i, sufficient,
well enough. But II it does not ram enough
the ground is then drenched by irriga-
ton Of underditches By sufficient rainfall
the farmer in Mexico means enough to keep
the ground wet all the time. Last fall they
were complaining seriously about the dryest
season they ever had, yet the gauge showed
fall OF sixteen inches in the valley Of Mex
leo during the five growing months, more
than the best of the eastern states get three
years out Of five. A, the Mexican average
is about twenty four inches with a max
imum of thirty-six, it is easy to understand
why they would think sixteen quite low.
But did not see a corn-field south of Zaca-
tecas that would not have made fair crop
il it had been decently put in and attended.
OF cultivation to keep the ground moist and
to loosen il SO that the plant-roots may PEN
citrate it the Mexican never dreams.
Nearly all OF the blowing is done with
wooden plows made on the farms by the
poems, or Indian laborers A stick Of hard
wood four or five inches IN diameter is
sharpenej at the end, which is sometimes
shod with iron About the middle OF this
WIG oo1ni 40 oseeN' NO. eHo - sAAS JAN ShiA -
single handle. The beam has cross-piece
to which the oxen S horns are lashed with raw
hide. The poem then takes the hanile In his
right hand and a long goai-stick In his left
The plow makes round-bottomed gutter In
the ground two or three inches deep, some
times deeper II the ground IS In good condi-
ton This gutter is about as straight a
rut in New Jersey clay road
and varies about the same In depth
The ridge OF hard earth that re-
mains between these cutters varies in
width from an inch to four or five inches at
the top. Upon this the seed Is quite apt to he
dropped occasionally, but 1t Is difficult to see
how it can do much worse there than in the
furrow with its hard bottom and sides. 1t
Is no wonder the native feels compelled TO
drench the ground with water from the
bitches. if for a week or so the usual after
noon showers should hold of Nothing but
plenty Of water could raise a crop on land %
titled, and the wonder is that even that
can do it. The amount Of produce that is
raised even by this miserable system Is
amazing 1t Is doubtful If any part of the
United States can show heavier yield Of
corn and wheat 70 the acre for series OF
years than Mexico in those portions where
there is sufficient rain
u6 OWLeTs OF INC
great ranches of Mexico are quite ready to
adopt American machinery, but being gen
orally gentlemen whose severest labor has
been the rolling of cigarettes neither knows
any more Of its use than the poems to whom
It is turned over. A threshing machine
may last a week or two if the poems do not
in the meantime fitch the bolts and other
movable parts, which they are quite likely
to do IL il is not locked up Against the
American plow the laborers have no PreJu-
dice whatever, and seem to make fair
effort to use IT, The lett hand must, now
ever, he free Tor the goad, or the oxen
would stop. The peou therefore tries to
manage the plow with one hand Finding
TWO handles unnecessary, and one oil them
initiating against his ribs occasionally, he
cuts II OH. Inc piow, OF course runs every
way out straght and even In depth. ana as
1t does even worse work than the Old
wooden one IL Is soon cast ASIDE
IL seems no Detter WIN Tue suiky-po".
AT Acambaro saw about thirty American
suiky- pio"s, al In line upon one ranch run
ming IN black adobe, about SIX weeks aiter
the rams hau ceased- 10 ihaAe a iurro" Oh
any oeptn heeued at ieast iour STOUT horseS
10 eaeh pio" was attached PAR OF 'V
pound cattle, anu Iat peon, himself ioah