El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-05-31

, valley, and as the main system of fri
cation has already been completed it
viii take but a small amount of money
for US TO throw our part of it open
to investment and colonization
Mexican Cotton Lands.
How about your cotton plantations?
Can these not be increased by irriga-
tiOn2
Yes. we have plans to that effect
We have immense zones that are suit
able for cotton, and we have one con-
Germ which is making final arrange
ments to cultivate about a quarter OF
a million acres This viii give US all
the raw cotton we need, and viii leave
something for export As It IS now,
our plantations are turning out an
annual yield of about I5,OO0,OOO pounds,
nearly all Of which is used in our fac
tories"
Mexican Beef fo- United States.
How about your your stock
ranches? VIII you be able to supply
the United States with beef in the fu-
turs2"
I do not see but that we may be
able to do So" said the Mexican sec
rotary OF agriculture. You people are
growing so fast that you VIII soon be
unable to feed yourselves and we are
so situated geographically that no other
country can compete with us in sup
plying your needs We have some
thing like 100. 100000 acres of pasture
lands, and 100000 or 5000 600 head
=
several million sheep, and we are now
exporting something like 100000 head
OF cattle year,
The stock industry is one which we
could greatly increase with additional
capital and better farming Our cattle
are not improved animals and it is a
question whether we can maintain fine
breeds Of cattle without lettering our
pastures As it is now, the beasts must
be hardy to feed on the sparse grasses
OF the dry season and to travel the
long distances that are necessary to
reach water Some of our big hacien-
das are importing shOrthOrns, Here /
fOrds and other breeds. but we all
know that we must improve our pas
lures, increase the number Of drinking
places and build the NECESSARY sheds
and barns before we can radically i'm
prove our stock"
Government and the Farmer.
What is the government doing to
teach the farmer2"
TT is just beginning its work along
agricultural. lines" said the minister.
The chief trouble we have here is the /
poor machinery, the nOn-use of fer
and, in addition, the backward
ness or our farming class. The gov
eminent ] Strying to show the farmers ]
the advantages Of machinery and
modern farm tools We have now sta
lions where such machinery is shown. /
ana where II IS loaned to the farmer
AS to fertilizers, we are irving to en- /
courage the use Of them, and have OBJ
tanned from the railroads low rates for /
their transportation. We are also pro /
llblUng the expectation of fertilizers /
from Mexico, and we will put heavy
export duties on all such goods
AS to the education of the farming
'Lass, we have national school OF I
agriculture here in Mexico City, which /
s ATTENDED by 500 students, and we
nave established experiment stations
IND demonstration farms in different
PARTS Of the republic. We have also a |
itaIt OF travelling instructors who visit
ne farmers on their estates, and teach l
mem the better processes of cultiva- I
lon We hope to advance steadily
Long all such lines, and the prospect
5 mat we shall greatly increase our
ropS and better our stock"
Farming in the Tropics.
L asked the secretary Of agriculture !
.L I Mexico was doing as to the tropi-
az parts OF the country. Senior Her
andez replied.
mere IS steady increase in our
limitations in the lowlands along the
OasIs- This is especially so of cof-
&c. winch has been added by the high !
flceS OF recent times We have MANY /
SW panama Plantations. the output OF I
men goes to the United States. bur I
men VIII have a market in FurODe I
: wei our present production of /
s-nanas IS about $50 000, 600 pounds. I
Inc state Of Ta0asco alone annually