The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1921-07-21
USE FOOT PLoW
Primitive implement Is Still En-.
pIoyed in Peru.
Ancient System Of Cultivation Founo
Sufficient to Produce All Crops
the Country Needs.

Tn the Intermediate or temperate
valleys of the eastern Andes, at anu
tudes between 5000 and 1000 feet.
agriculture was of the terrace system,
which the ancient Peruvians carrieu
to a higher developments tlah any
other people, says report vi 'ne
Smithsonian institution. Huhureus
of square miles of land were re-
claimed by strengthening rivers, wall
ing. filling leyeling and covering win
deem LAYER of fine soil. All OF these
artificial lands had also TO be irrigated
often by carrying the water chahheis
for many miles through craggy noun
tains or along precipitOus slopes AI'er
being cropped with maize cohtlnu-
ously for centuries the terrace larLiis
are still fertile and have enaDieu
millions of people to live in a region
that I'm its natural condition cOuid
have been OF no use for agrlcuItura'
purposes.
In still higher valleys, at attitudes
of from 1900 to 1900 feet, the Gil
mate is colder, moisture is more aDuh-
dant and the slopes are more gentle'
There is less need OF terracing or IT.
rigation. but the alpine grasses anu
other small plants form dense, hDrous
turf. a condition like that OF northern
countries where the pillow is the basic
implement Of agriculture. The farm
|
done by human labor, facilitated by
neculiar implement for breaking the
sod.
The Peruvian foot pillow consists OF
n rather stout wooden handle between
five and six feet long, shOd, as in moo
ern times, by an iron point about thre'
inches wide and two or three times al
long. On the left side, just above th'
iron point is a footrest bound TO th'
handle by leathern thongs. rev
inches farther up is another rest, AT
tached in the same waf, projecting
forward. This is for the left haho
which thus assists the foot In applying
the weight OF the body to pushing tn
implement into the soil.
Two "plOwmen" work together, 8
that their blows enter the soil only
few inches apart under the same plec
Of sod which is then pried up. A DO
or woman kneels in front OF eac
steam" TO turn the sods as fast as the
are lOosened. In the rareneu atiho'
pbere OF the high mountains plowin
Is very strenuous exercise ana III
work has to he done IN short shl1l
The tough sod disintegrates during III
long growing season into zoos
black soil. The cultivation of pOtatot
nv this method is carried on to an all
,ude of more than 1900 feet on II
southern slopes.
The hardest varities of potatoes a
roo hitter to be eaten In the fires
state, but are dried as reserve sto'
Of food after freezing, thawing al
threading out The juice. The nativ
are familiar with the names. habl
and distinctive qualities of many vari
ties of potatoes. including several typ
that are very different from any know
in the United States. The flavor
colors and textures of the differe
. kinds of potatoes are as keenly a
preciated among the high altitude pc
pie as the varieties of apples or peach
are with us. The firm textures a
distinct favors Of the Peruvian var
ties may be due in part to their bel
less affected by cooking, since wal
/ boils at lower temperatures in the hi
attitudes. POta oes are not baked
| roasted. fuel being too scarce.