The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-01-26

apolis.)
While Mexico has less than one
quarter of the area Of our country,
the diversity of soil, temperature. rain
fall and consequent flora Is much
greater than with US. In the north,
along the boundary, the climatic con-
ditions are very similar on both sides
OF the line-generally arid. The north
ern half of Mexico, excepting the mar
row coastal plains along the CUR OF
Mexico on the east aud the Gulf OF
California on the west, is a repetltloh
OF the physical characteristics that We
are familiar with in western Texas,
in New Mexico and in Arizona.
Further south, aS the rainfall IN
creases under the influence OF the
tropics, there is a vast region compEls-
ing the fertile valleys of GuadalaJara
and Mexico which. though partly in
the tropics on account of its great
altitude enjoys q most delightful tenn
perate climate. This region con-
tains the great historic cities of Mex
leo. It's people had reached the high
est point of civilization attained by
the Indian raced in this continent be-
fore contact with the Europeans.
South Of Mexico City there is
rapid fall Of altitude toward the 18TH
mus. Along the Gulf of Mexico the
coasted plain. in the latitude OF Mex
leo City, attainS a width Of forty to
sixty miles and it widens toward the
south so that ii embraces the entire
area Of the great states OF Vera Cruz,
Campeche and Yucatan. This region,
as far north as Tampico, is wholly
tropical Frosts are unknown. The
rainfall varies one hundred to two
hundred inches. and more in some To-
calities. The soil and fora are prob
ably as rich and varied as can be
in 81 vni la m
Palms and the precious dyeWoOds
grow in profuson. This is the home
of the Gamma, the dahlia and the un-
limited variety OF plants and shrubs
that grace our parks and gardens.
Along the streams the trees are al
most smothered with orchids of
charming coloring and fascinating
shapes.
Rich Agricultural Country.
While the central plateau, to
which l have already referred, pro-
duces cotton, wheat, corn. beans. BAR
ley and the fruits OF the temperate
zone, this coastal plain produces rice
cane. henequep, cocoa, the banana and
virtually all the fruits and products
known to the topics. The deciivitie>
connecting these zones are covered
with beautiful forests rich in areas OF
industrial woods, interspersed with
plantations of coffee and various
semtropical fruits.
Many hypothesis have been advanc-
ed relative to the origin and deriva.
ton of the American Indians. If
were to venture a guess l should say
that the proba bilties favor the view
that the original home of the race
was in the region of Yucatan and thu
lsthmus Human remains and tn.
remains OF human industry are found
all through this region, which ante
date many marked geological change
and evidence great antiquity and
very dense population in the remot
past. That the different branch as o
the race had = common origin ant
probably common home from
which they migrated seems prove,
by the wonderful uniformity Of typ
and physical characteristics whicl
dominate the race from Yucatan t
Hudson Bay The difference in ap
pearance in Indians from these re
mote regions is very much less tina
Is the difference between the Euro
Baltic and those dwelling on tn
Mediterranean.
l believe it rational to assume tina
during the glacial period, when thi
portion of the continent was a regio
OF ice and snow, not unlike Green
land at the present time, Yucata
and the Isthmus enjoyed a genial cl
mate and a very dense population
Density Of population develops civil
cation. As the ice receded and til
climate to the north moderated, I'll
teeming population began
spread. Our portion OF the contine,
was peopled. The elements of tim
distance and environment easily a,
count for the difference in languas
and in customs.
Civilization as we'll as populate
moved north. When Cortez ente
ed Mexico in 1919, the City of Me.
leo and not Yucatan was the HE
seat of the red mans civilization {
this continent. ! use the term civ
lization advisedly. The Indian en-
pire of Montezuma, which IL
Spaniards destroyed four hundr,
years ago, was in many respects
far advanced as some of the Eur
pean States Of that period.
Early Mexican Federation.
While the Indians who were e
countered by the settlers of the Uni