The record-union., 1892-12-02

for Factory Work-WIne, Brandies,
Corn and Potatoes.
Peru is divided into three agricultural
belts, different widely in physical char
acteristics. These are known as the
Coast. the Sierra and the Montana. The
coast is the rainless belt stretching from
the Maritime Range to the Pacific. 1t is
a black, sandy desert, which would be
uninhaDitable if it We're not traversed by
numerous streams flowing westward
from the Andes. The valleys of these
streams are the main centers of popula-
ton and agricultural industry. While
the climate is equable, there is no rain,
and such crops and fruits as are raised
are dependent upon irrigation. Only
those rivers which rise in the central
chain have water in their beds all the
year round. The smaller streams flow
ing from the outer or western range
overflow their banks, and leave borders
of highly fertile land, which can be culti-
waited after the rainy season in the mount
aims. Sugar, cotton and grapes are the
most important products of the irrigated
valleys of the coast. Behind the coast
with wool and potatoes as the chief sta
pies. Beyond the Andes is the vast trOp-
ical forest of the Upper Amazon, which
has not been opened TO European, settle
ment. The Sierra is inhabited mainly by
Indians, and the Montana, with its rich
store of forest wealth and wide range OF
agricultural resources, is virtually un-
tenanted.
The agricultural industries Of Peru are
confined to the coast valleys, where farm
ing is rendered practicable by irrigation,
and to the mountain slopes, where locks
of sheep and alpaca are pastured. All
the processes of tillage are superficial.
field which is to be planted to sugar cot
ton or potatoes is not pIOwed below the
depth of three inches. In the days OF the
lncas the plow used was a crooked stick,
pointed with metal, and 1t is still the COM
monest farm implement to be seen in the
coast valleys. The plows of foreign man
uiacture which have been introduced are
of the hghtest pattern, and ordinarily
have only one handle. The chief tunc-
ton of the plowman Is to crack his long
whip, and little OF his weight goes into the
furrow. The common practice is to turn
half dozen OK teams, with plows, into
q field at once, but when the work is done
the soil has barely been loOsened. With
the top-dressing supplied by irrigation
trenches and river inundations, it is
hardly necessary to do more than scratch
The agricultural industry for which
Peru is pre-eminently adapted by geo.
graphical position and natural resources
is the production of cane sugar. 1t is the
only section of the west coast of South
America where cane sugar can be sue
cessfully raised, and it is the natural
source of supply for Chile, Bolivia, Ecua-
dor and adjacent countries. While the
coast valleys are without rain, the climate
Is moist from sea fogs during portion OF
the year, and with irrigation trenches the
growing corn receives the additional sup
ply OF water which it requires. The cane
cuttings mature in the second year, and
can be cropped from three to six years
without renewal. The irrigation system
is a striking advantage, since the planter
has absolute control over his crop. The
temperature is practically constant, neith-
er rains nor frosts are to be dreaded and,
by turning on or cutting Off the supply of
water, the planter can bring one field
after another to maturity, so as to grind
the cane at his convenience, and when it
is in perfect condition. There are docile
Indians for field labor, and coolies for
factory work, and wages are as low as
thirty-tive to fifty cents a day. The
product in former years ran as high as
100000 tons, but, in consequence OF the
decline of the demand from England, and
the exhaustion of the country, it has
fallen to 70, GOO tons, the export approxi-
gar is excellent, great improvement
having resulted during the last twenty
five years from the substitution of Ota-
heitian for West Indian cane. The vol
ume of the export trade could be greatly
increased if there were direct water COM
munication with American ports by an
interoceanic canal.
The mechanism for the grinding and
boiling of sugar is, in the main, as prinli-
tive as the method OF plowing the fields.
On small plantations in the interior the
Old-taShioned trapiche is kept in motion
by OK team, or by mules. the cane being
crushed between wooden presses and
metal rollers. a large percentage of the
sugar is wasted, and the liquid IS boiled
and clarified by the crudest methods.
These processes suffice Tor the manufact-
ure Of a coarse brown sugar and the raw
material for various kinds Of rum. Near
the coast large plantations are scientiti-
cally conducted. Some Of the streams
offer water power for grinding the cane,
but the most successful plantations in the
valleys of Rimac, Lambayeque, Canete
and Chicania, have narrow-gauge rail
ways, improved steam machinery, and
all the modern appliances for boiling,
granulatlng and cryStalllZlng sugar. The
largest sugar estates include 1000 or 1900
acres, and provide employment for 200
or l,5OO operatives and farm laborers.
Cotton Is an indigenous product of Peru.
Before the Spanish conquest rough kind
OF cotton cloth was made by the natives
Samples of it are found in the wrappinps
of bodies whenever an ancient grave is
opened in a coast burial place. In North
ern Peru the best cotton is the product of
q tree which flowers twice a year, and
bears for ten years in succession. This
is a coarse cotton, which is exported TO
England and is largely used for admix-
ture with wool. L is not fat cotton. the
seeds yielding only two per cent. OF oil.
and il can be used only for ordinary fab
rics. Its mean length is one and three
tenthS inches, ranging between the Bra
lillian and New Orleans cottons on the
one hand, and Sea Island and Egyptian
cottous on the other. The yield per acre
rarely exceeds 900 pounds, and not in
frequently does not equal l,500 pounds
The largest plantations are in the Yea
Valley and in the northern provinces.
but few OF them are adequately equipped
with pumps, steam gins and other ma
chnery. The value of the crop does not
exceed S3,0O0,0O0 year, and, with the
low prices prevailing for cotton, there is
no immediate prospect of the extension
OF the industry; all except the wild cot
ton, which comes nom tree from ten to
twenty feet high, is raised at the-contiu-
ence OF rivers, or in valleys where irriga-
tiOn is possible.
Rice grows in the northern lowlands.
but is an untrustworthy crop. Flax is
also raised, but mainly for the seed, from
which popular beverage is made. The
wine industry ranks i'll importance with
cotton and sugar, but is confined TO a few
districts, and notably to Moquegua, Yea
and Chicba. The annual product is about
100000 barrels, mainly of red wines.
There are brandies distilled from two
kinds OF white grape, one being very
Tr.1sa "A