Evening star., 1942-02-12
BY HAROLD b. ROGERS,
Star Staff Correspondent.

Ill SllllC 1ldS CSCllOCo w Wiz AVA VA
American traveller an interesting
cross-section of that great eco
nomic factor in the life of q ma
ton which features agriculture as
a principal source of livelihood for
a large percentage of its population.
From the train window one sees
mile after mile of the rich farm
ing sections of this country which
recall similar scenes in the United
States. Behind the acres Of lush
farm land, as in the United States,
there are battling economic prob
lens, but this correspondent. for
the time being is occupying him
self chiefly with the scenery and
the lavish hospitality of his gracious
hosts.
The visitor to Chile is impressed
by the very apparent progress in
farming methods and machinery,
at the same time noting the exist
ence of ancient methods not yet
displaced. In one field, for instance.
I saw workmen threshing wheat
by driving team of horses round
and round on a pile of grain and
straw. Later. workmen toss this
mixture of wheat, straw and chaff
in the air to separate the grain.
Not far away, in another wheat
field, 1 saw a modern threshing
machine, operated by a wood-burn-
ing steam engine. The long pipe of
the thresher was throwing blast
of wheat straw onto the straw
stack-a scene familiar to the wheat
belt of the United States.
Oxen Used Widely.
The patient oxen are used every
where Through the farming country
Of Chile-large, strong, well-kept
animals, usually hitched to some va
riety of a two-Wheel cart. These
oxen are we'll cared for, and bear out
the reputation of the Chileans for
kindness to their animals. Drivers
place what seem to be tremendous
loads on their carts. But they are
never in too great hurry to stop
frequently and let the animals rest.
But much motor driven farm ma
chinery is coming into use, and
American-made tractors and plows
are finding increasing markets.
The countryside, as seen from the
train, presents a pleasing picture.
Rolling hillsides alternate with
nearly level plains, trees shelter fat,
sleek, contented cattle. South OF
Santiago is a great cattle country
where the strains of pure-bred STOCK
are evident. Flocks Of sheep feed
peacefully beside streams. Further
south, toward Cape Horn, are great
er flocks of sheep. Nearer Santiago
are the truck farms, where are raised
the fruits, melons and vegetables,
justly famous.
Typical of the fine farms in the
lake country is the fundo OF Fer
nando Varas, general manager OF
Ell Diario Ilustrado, the newspaper
to which this visiting reporter has
been assigned. At Villarrica we were
met by Senor Varas with his car
riage, drawn by two handsome bay
horses. Dashing alongside on a
prancing saddle horse was Fernando,
jr., 13. colorfully attired in the wide
brimmed sombrero, bright manta "a
short cape over his shoulders, the
clothes of a huaso, Chilean horse
man: big spurs, and a wide smile.
The lad rode like veteran. Tanned
by the summer sun, as were his three
brothers, these lads typify the whole
some young manhood growing up On
the good earth of Chile.
Beautiful Flower Garden.
Near the Varas home is beautiful
flower garden of wide-spreadlng
beds, winding paths and bright col
ors 1t slopes gently over to broad
fields, which in turn 60 down to the
shores of beautiful Lake Villarrica.
AS the eye follows the view across
the flowers, the grazing lands, the
lake and to the mountains on the
other side, there finally arises sharp
and clear against the blue sky the
towering cone of the volcano Villar-
rica, white with snow. decorated
with an occasional drifting cloud
near the base of the snowcap.
A ride on horseback over the wide
acres takes up past herds OF blooded
cattle, through cool forests, to a
field of heavy waving wheat, grown
for seed, and back along the gravely
shore of the lake. Truly these Chill
can planters know how to live! One
of the men from the three families
of workmen who reside on the farm
accompanied us, both-on horseback
and in the carriage, driving the
team.
From the farms of both Chile and
the United States are being built
sturdy, healthy, happy people. Al
though the social and economic