The Ely miner., 1935-06-06

S'S2 ~ q ShuSiC
ranch was to look for land which had
good drainage and which was not too
far from the house, to clear for land
for the planting of a vegetable garden.
They found a shelf of good land over
looking the river and set men to chop
down trees, clear away brush, and
free it as far as possible from roots.
Carrots, beets, beans, spinach, and
radishes thrive, but lettuce and cab
bage grows very tall-into small trees,
in fact-and develops disappo,ztingly
small heads. Tomatoes flourish. Even
stray seeds dropped around the kitchen
door grow into strong, healthy plants.
The small pepper, ali, so popular in
Ecuador, grows equally well.
Papaya trees give delicious melons
for the breakfast table. Bananas, Of
course, were planted Immediately.
Orange and tangerine trees grow near
by; also lemon and lime trees. Wild
guava trees bear fruit just over the
fence.
There is also the naranjilla, which
is an orange-colored fruit covered with
prickly, hairy coat. The inside of
this fruit is a greenish-yellow color
and is filled with tiny seeds. One spe-
cies is tasteless, but the juice of the
other, when ripe, has a delicate, dis
tinctive aroma and flavor, which may
be indicated vaguely to the sense Of
taste by mentioning a combination of
orange, pineapple, and strawberry. It
makes a refreshing hot-weather drink,
and also a delicious pie similar to
lemon meringue. Perishable foods are
kept by means of homemade, water
cooled balsa-wood refrigerator. The
mountain stream which is diverted
over this refrigerator box keeps butter
hard and vegetables fresh and crisp.
Since the ranch is located nine miles
from the end of the automobile road,
of necessity transportation is by horses
and mules. The tortuous trail, some
times very muddy and rocky in spots,
is everywhere spectacularly beautiful,
as it winds around the spurs and
ravines of the Pastaza Valley gorge.
Flowers are always in bloom, some
times orchid, wild guava blossoms in
their season, or lilies.
Brilliantly plumaged birds fly over
head, their calls echoing in the canyon
walls, and occasionally a startled wild
animal darts across the path. Beyond
the few scattered little ruts and settle
ments Immediately on the trail, the un-
known wilderness stretches on either
side Of the Pastaza for hundreds of
miles. There are hidden valleys and
wooded peaks where no white man has
ever been and very few Indians have
penetrated.
All the Comforts of Home.
In this wilderness two modern CRU
soes have achieved the comforts of the
white mans civilization. Their dinner
is served on a hand-rubbed mahogany
table. China is native-made and hand
decorated in a single design which re-
sembles that of Italian pottery. The
shawls are effective as curtains and
stand out brightly against the soft,
satiny gleam of the cinnamon-board
walls.
Against the dark wall of the living
room, the paintings of Quito artist
emphasize the rich, bold tones of ma
tive scenes and native faces. Between
the book shelves which flank one end
of that room is a built-in divan de-
signed by one of New YOrk's foremost
stage designers. 1t Is upholstered in
the downy kapok of the woods snd
covered with the weaves of nimble ma
tive fingers. A wide veranda incloses
the front and sides of the house, anJ
another of generous proportions cut
lines the U between the rear wings.
Outside, In the working" grounds,
is a blacksmith shop, with an impro-
vised forge and blower, to which the
stubborn little pack mules and the rid
ing horses are led for shoeing. Across
the driveway is peon shack, made of
split bamboo and covered with thatch.
Near the big gate is corral built on
the western style, by using whole bam-
boo poles instead of pine timbers.
The big gate which leads to the
hacienda house from the Pastaza trail
was an achievement in hand labor. To
the top of the huge lignum-vitae posts,
Is feet high and 20 inches square, the
men hauled up on runners a cross
beam weighing LOO pounds. Sheer
manpower, lacking the assistance Of
machinery, tugged and sweated that
massive Intel into place all one after
noon. There it is now, etched in the
moonlight, proclaiming to the Jungle
and the trail the results of two years
effort
Around the house is the beginning Of
lovely flower garden. There more
than 80 varieties of orchids flower In
exotic splendor. A neglected little
hibiscus plant was nursed along to pro-
vide shoots from which has been plant
ed complete hedge surrounding the
grounds.
The first attempt to cultivate roses
ended in heartbreaking disaster.
Armies of ants stripped the little
bushes of every blossom and leaf.
Bulbous plants grow luxuriously, but
even they have to strive against the
depredations of rabbits and COATS.
who nibble off the tender shoots.
On the hillside thousands of coffee
plants have been set out, where they
must be carefully tended in shade for
two more years before they will bear
the first crop.