The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1921-07-07
USE FOOT PLOW
Primitive Implement Is Still En-
pIoyed in Peru.
Ancient System Of Cultivation Found
Sufficient to Produce All Crops
the Country Needs.

In the intermediate or temperate
valleys of the eastern Andes. at alti-
tudes between 5000 and Il,OOO feet.
agriculture was of the terrace system.
which the ancient Peruyians carried
to Q higher developments than any
other people. says q report OF the
Smithsonian institution. Hundreds
ef square miles of land we're re-
claimed by strengthening rivers. wall
Ing. filling ievelIng and covering with
deep layer Of fine soil. All OF these
artificial lands had also to be irrigated,
often by carrying the water channels
for many miles through craggy noun
tains or along PERCEPTIONS slopes. After
being cropped with maize continu-
ousiy for centuries the terrace farms
are still fertile and have enabled
millions Of people to live Ia q region
that In Its natural condition could
have been Of no use for agricultural
purposes.
In still higher valleys. at attitudes
of from 1900 to $4,000 feet. the eli
mate is colder. moisture is more abun.
dant and the slopes are more gentle.
There Is less need Of terracing or ir-
rfgation. but the alpine grasses and
other small plants form dense. fbrous
turf. condition like that Of northern
countries where the pillow is the basic
implement Of agriculture The farm
ting OF the mountain grass lands vas
done by human labor. facilitated by
peculiar implement for breaking the
sod.
The Peruvian foot pillow consists OF
rather stout wooden handle between
hve and six feet long. shod as In mod
ern times, by an iron point about three
inches wide and two or three times as
long. On the left side. just above the
iron point is footrest bound TO the
handle by leathern thongs. A few
inches farther up Is another rest. at
tached 10 the same way. projecting
forward. This is for the left hand,
which thus assists the foot In applying
the weight of the body to pushing the
implement into the SOIL
Two "plownlen" work together, so
that their plows enter the soil only a
few inches apart under the same piece
Of sod. which Is then pried up. boy
or woman kneels In front of each
team" to turn the sods as fast as they
are l0osened. In the rarefied atmos-
phere OF the high mountains blowing
10 a very strenuous exercise and the
work has to be done In short shifts.
The tough sod disintegrates during the
long growing season into loose
black soil. The cultivation of potatoes
BY this method is carried on to an alti-
tude Of more than 1900 feet on the
southern slopes.
The hardest varities of potatoes are
100 bitter to be eaten In the fresh |,
state. but are dried as reserve stock
" food after freezing, thawing and
threading out the juice. The natives
Ire familiar with the names. habits
md distinctive qualities OF many varie- /
les Of potatoes, including several types
hat are very different from any known
n the United States. The fiavors,
,oiors and textures of the different
rinds OF potatoes are as keenly APP
,reciated among the high altitude peo-
'Ie as the varieties Of apples or peaches
ire with u.s. The firm textures and
distinct fiavors of the Peruvian varie-
les may be due In part to their being
ess affected by cooking. since water
'oils at lower temperatures In the high
attitudes. Pota'oes are not baked or
oasted, fuel being too scarce.