Sharp County record., 1899-10-06
FARMING IN MEXICO.
Primitive Methods Employed In
Diaz' Domain.
Decided improvements Accomplished
During the Last Two Decades
Through the Introduction
of Machinery.

Mexican farming is widely different
from that in the United States. lrrl-
cation is necessary in the greater por-
ton of this country, and, on account
of the scarcity of water, large extent
of land cannot be utilized. When the
owner of the land has sufficient water
for the purpose indicated he holds on
to his property and rarely can be in
duced to sell, as it is of permanent value
to him. For the last 800 years large
tracts of land have been owned by in
dividuals or families. who have spent
heavy sums of money for canals and
dams in order to make them productive.
On account of this and the attending
expenses of irrigation there are fewer
small farmers in Mexico than there are
in the United States. Until recently
farming in Mexico has been on the
primitive order, but the Mexican is ex-
pert in irrigation, and if he can get the
water his land becomes fertile and
yields generously. During the last two
decades decided improvements have
been accomplished through the intro
duction of modern implements into
farming in Mexico. The increase in
production corresponds to the improve
ments in farming apparatus. Inc great
railroads of the country have been i'm
portant factors in this advance, en-
abling farmers with surplus of pro-
ducton to ship to those less fortunate
The cost of labor is from -25 to so
cents az to "a cents in United States
currency per day, depending on the To-
cality. There are two crops of corn a
season, upon which the farmer averages
$50 (S24.O5) per acre gross.
Cattle raising is and has always been
a profitable business in Mexico, conse-
quent upon cheap labor low taxes and
the large tracts of cheap land which are
suitable for grazing only. Until re-
Gently no attempt has been made to i'm
prove the stock, but certain large cattle
men have nov undertaken to do this,
and steady improvement is certain
henceforth. The demand created dur
ing the late war with Spain and the
high prices which obtained in the Unit
ed States increased the price of cattle
to such an extent that the northern
portion of the country has become de-
populated of its stock, which, it is said,
will take several years to replenish.
This means continuance of high prices
in cattle in that quarter. Dairy farm
ing in the neighborhood Of large cities
is lucrative, milk selling at so cents GA
cents) per gallon and butter at rs cents
to 81 (36 cents to 4S.1 cents) per pound.
Those engaged in this business make
money rapidly.
Fruit and vegetable farming is begin
ming to attract attention. Formerly
this amounted to simply enough for the
home market. Now an effort will be
made to supply the United States with
early fruits and vegetables. The move
ment is in its incipiency, but it is des-
tined to grow into large proportions.
Oranges, lemons, tomatoes, beans, etc,
are produced in Mexico from four to
eight weeks earlier than in the United
States, Hence this will be profitable
business in the near future. Wheat is
cultivated in the high table lands of
central Mexico and is fairly profitable.
1t is not the equal of that grown in the
United States either in quantity per
acre or quality. Para and Bermuda
grass give pasturage in many sections
of the country, They are said to be
equal to any in the world.
Parts Of the country are adapted to
the growth Of tropical products, viz;
Coffee, vanilla, rubber, cocoanut, etc,
the quality of all being first-class. 1t
Is said the best vanilla in the world
comes from the state of Vera Cruz and
the best cocoa from the state Of Chi
apas. The coffee Of Michoacan is said
to be equal to any; the tobacco of Vera
Cruz is preferred by many to that of
Havana, and the sugar production of
southern Tamaulipas or northern Vera
Cruz is said to be surpassed by that of
no country save Hawaii in quantity,
and 1t is more profitable to the pro-
ducers, for the reason that seven to ten
crops are the result of one planting,
whereas the Hawaiian planters get only
two Taken as II whole, farming in
Mexico is an inviting field for persons
OF capital and Intelligence. Chicago
Chronicla