The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1889-10-03
PLANTATIONS o. THE mAcvty
GSag Llass q CsataSy PIAnts-PSIaas
1laklng-OthSF Pr0AusaIOaA
in. nnuaoa H,,.,rmsit


1laklng-OthsF PrOAuosIOaA
IcOr Bosom JOurnALl
On the descending slope going 10
Vera Cruz, which passes ID q few hours
he gradAtionS Il took lays y
climb on the other side, yoa
are brought into close contact with
those immense plantations Of the
mAguey, which form the largest industry
Of the country at the resent. Here for
hundreds Of miles the plains and hill.
sides are covered with long, close lines
Of century plants n every stage, from
the strong, large, generous beauty Of
the full grown plant to the small, ten.
der green Of the newly .tEansplanted
shoots. II one can conceive the avn.
metEy OF these regular forms, the
spiked, feshy leaves eight OF ten test
long falling In Whirl around the cen.
trail blossom stalk with the regularity Of
sculpture, and conceive also the effect
Of seeing them spread over such vast
tracts Of countrJ, be will have befoes
him one Of the most novel pictures In
this land Of novelty. Tho plaAt 10 to
the native what the cocoa palm Is to the
South sea Islander; Il conl.Iines within
itself . do en- di erent materials Tor
comfort and use. Lrowing on an abs0-
lutely dry soil. with no help from irriga-
ton, It has property Of condensing
moisture and GOODNESS about its roots
which makes Il yield ct full growth an
Incredible amount Of liquid.
The di Guilty Of finding certain intoP.
nation regarding anything here, where
tho usua. answer 70 In luiry 10 . shrug
and ''Quien sabe, has kept ~ from.
finding definitely the facts regarding
pulque-mAking up 10 the present time.
Tbs plant, after from six to eight years
growth, develops in the center Q large
circular cone. which, IL allowed to IN.
crease, would become thick stalk,
inR removed at this early stage, leaves 4
deep, low Ike hollow, into With the
jul pours at the rate VI four TO SIX
quarts daily for two or thne noutha
The slightly acrid ruiI Is drawn of By
means Of rude syphons and left from
ten to fourteen da Q IN enormous vats,
covered lnsiue with hiGies tho hairy
aide out for 90 Q unknown reasou. 4
slight froth rises dur ny the process Of
frrmr ntation, which isski nmed of. and
the pulque 10 drawn into casks or pig.
skins ready for transportation.
What attraction to taste, sight or
Smell this thin, sticky sour, pale bever-
age can have, 10 one Of the mysteries
stranger can never hope 10 elucidate.
kill, IS nearly every luxury In evsry
land % an &C luired taste, from the de
cayed hsh and bird nest Of y Chinese
to the koQus iort cheese and olive Of
western civ u alton, We oIght not 70
quarrel with this manifestation.
Throughout the length and hre .dth Of
this country the 81 my, yeAsty, sorrow.
ful stu has an enth siastic success.
Besides this drink, watch 10 to tn
Mexican what beer Is 70 the German.
the maguey furnishes two others not IN
like our brandy and whisky. very IN.
toxicating but thank goodness, very
little used We saw but two drunken
men during our entire Quincy. Il sup
pliea, besides, primitive needle ano
thread, by tearing o. one Of the sharp
spikes with long threa Of fber 4
gives . species Of hempen cloi b from the
coIrser tissue, and paper from the line
inner pulp it provides . good thatch
for houses and the de Tis, dried. makes
fuel in regions where wood Il scare
so that 4 Oils every want like Q general
utility MN in o small theatre com1any,
and GrinSs is owner goOd incoL.s DO
,itiOa