Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-24

Few countries in the world possess such
rich agricultural opportunities as Mexi-
CO. With all its territory lying south OF
the region Of rigorous winter, and the
major portion within the tropics, the eie-
walton Of its tablelands gives q climate
where the products Of the north may be
raised, while on the coastal plains one
finds a climate that permits the growing
Of tropical fruit. Therefore, when the
agricultural resources Of Mexico are de-
veloped by the introduction Of American
methods. Mexico will be able to feed it
self and assist in feeding less favored ma
lions.
There are annumerablef examples to
prove that the American farmer who
comes to Mexico and buys intelligently
and handles his labor we'll can make a
success out Of his work. But the man
who falls into the hands Of a fraudulent
land company is foredoomed to failure.
It Is estimated by the Department of
Agriculture in Washington that If all the
land suitable to growing cotton were
utilized Mexico could easily become the
rival Of the United States in the produc-
ton of that staple. During the days Of
the Montezumas the annual cotton
pIOuuCtlOu ditoilISu oil dfCld6O VI 0DOAt
"a, 900 tons. Today the production Is not
more than half that amount, although
the consumption Of the Mexican factories
exceeds the production by some jO,OOO
bales. The government places an import
duty Of 31l cents a. pound on raw cotton,
so that the cotton growers in Mexico
have the advantage Of those in the
United States.
Long-sighted men believe that Mexico
Is destined to Become the breeding ground
Of the Ameri-
Cheap Mexican Lands can beef sup
for Cattle Raising. p.: m'u IN '. of
all the principal cattle ranches OF the
United States and their utilization for
farming purposes the stockman must
look to the cheap lands OF Mexico for the
cattle ranches Of the future. Here large
ranches may be bought for prices rang
ing from SO cents to S., gold. per acre.
In the northern tier of Mexican states
there are millions Of acres Of land adapt
ed to cattle breeding. On account of the
long dry seasons it would not be possible
to fatten them for market, but they can
be brought up to the feeder point with
remarkable success.
The losses from the rigors Of winter In
Mexico are slight, amounting to only
per cent, even in chihuahua, which is the
only state having a real touch of winter.
The distance from the Mexican cattle
lands to the corn belt Of the United States
is not SO great as to prohibit the raising
Of the American beef supply in Mexico
and its preparation for market in the
United States. The United States will
not allow cattle to como from the east
and Eagle Pass gateways, because of a
quarantine against Texas fever. But
American cattlemen are taking hold Of
the cattle business in Mexico and the
eradication OF the Texas fever tick prob
ably will follow.
In Mexico the staple food products are
corn, wheat and beans. There are mill
lions of acres of land in the republic
suitable for the cultivation of these crops.
The selling price per bushel Is just about
double that in the United States, while
the cost Of the land and labor is less than
half as much as in the United States AS
the tortilla, or corn cake, is an article Of
everyday diet, corn is demanded in large
quantities, and the value of the annual
crop Is greater than that Of any single
product of Mexica soil.
X
Coffee is one of the important crops of
southern Mexico. the state of Vera Cruz
alone having an
Coffee in South annual production
Important Crop. pounds The cofO
fee fincas, or planta tons, OF Colima, in
west Mexico, supply the coffee that is
used on the table of the Emperor of Ger
many. The total coffee crop Of the coun-
try is worth about $6,0O0.OOO, gold,
year.
Coffee trees grow best in an altitude OK
| from 1000 to 5000 feet. and require
ground within the tropics. With the
cocoa tree, coffee is the most particular
of all cultivated crops. The elevation of
the ground must be pleasing, the latitude
must be satisfactory, and in addition to
| this it refuses to flourish either in the
sun or the shade. So it becomes neces-
sary to plant some other tree with it,
usually the banana. cocoanut or rubber
l tree, any one of which is q dividend
producer on its own account. Ordinarily
about 600 coffee trees are planted per
acre, and the yield ranges from $50 to
50 pounds per acre. 1t costs about $3.50