280 



AKBORICl'"LTURE 



and then skilled worknieu, not mere 

 salesmen, must be sent to ^fexieo to teacli 

 the farmers how to use them. The man- 

 ufacturer who is wise euougii to build 

 an implement suiteil to the needs of this 

 people, and instruet them in its use, will 

 lay the foundation tor a profitable and 

 permanent business. 



WRONi; IMPRESSIONS OF MEXICO. 



When we see the rude implements and 

 ancient customs, it is asserted that Mex- 



ico is far bLhind the civilized world. 

 This, in some respects, is trae. Yet in 

 (he four centuries' experience in the art 

 of irrigation and in the laws secured for 

 the management of her forests Mexico is 

 far in advance of the ITnited States, while 

 in her structures of masonrv we can learn 

 much from her experii-nce. .\n exchange 

 of ideas would he profitable for both na- 

 tions. Some of our agricultural schools 

 could learn much from the faruici- and 

 irrigator of the Kcpublic. 



Forc.sts of M<^\i(*<). 



Officials of the Eepublic who have care- 

 fully studied the subject mention that 

 there were forests on the tablelands and 

 that rainfall was much greater years ago 

 than now. Tradition says that the Span- 

 iards cleared away these forests, since 

 which the rainfall has been greatly di- 

 minished. Certain it is, there are now 

 no extensive forests on the great plains 

 of Mexico. 



There are the renuiins of great systems 

 of reservoirs for irrigation, with aque- 

 ducts of brick supported upon arches, 

 which still remain, where the water was 

 carried through tunnels and over valleys 

 for long distances, but by reason of 

 droughts and decreased precipitation 

 these are now of little or no use. 



Forests cannot exist without water. 

 Regular and copious rainfall cannot pre- 

 vail without a production of forests. 

 Aridity is invariably accompanied by 

 scant shrub growth, or entire absence of 

 plant life. 



When it is considered that Mexico, es- 

 pecially the Southern portion, is narrow, 

 with large oceans on either side, lying 

 in a tropical region where evaporation is 

 constant and extreme, the questions nat- 

 urally arise: AVhv is there not greater 

 precipitation? Why arc there not large 

 trees and dense forests, which always ac- 

 company moist tro[)ic conditions? In 

 his history Prescott relates that at the 

 time of the invasion there were large and 

 dense forests, which were not uncommon 

 upon the higher tablelands. 



Have climatic changes occurred in 

 Mexico which destrove(l the forests? And 

 what caused the change? Or has the 

 destruction of the-e great forests caused 



the change ami induced aridity? If the 

 former is correct, there can be no rem- 

 edy. All must be left to time and the 

 caprice of nature to effect a change. But 

 if the latter l)e the true diagnosis, then 

 it is within the i)Ower of man to replace 

 these forests and thus secure as favorable 

 conditions as existed before the removal 

 of the trees. 



Spain's history has been one of forest 

 (k'struction, ancl her climatic condition 

 and agricultural degeneracy are the re- 

 sult of this indiscretion. Americans have 

 closely followed Spain's footsteps, and 

 the great forests of the United States 

 have been wantonly sacrificed, while the 

 results are daily becoming more ap])ar- 

 ent in drought and flood. 



With a wiser government than either, 

 Mexico is giving protection to her re- 

 maining timber lands, and will, in lime, 

 overcome the evils caused by acts of for- 

 mer generations. 



'^^i'he ti-opical forests of Mexico occupy 

 the low coast lands and borders of 

 ' streams at low altitudes. The pine is 

 upon the elevated mountain tracts, while 

 the great area of the Republic, the l:ible 

 lands, are practically bare of valual^le 

 timber trees. It is ap|)arent that Mexico 

 has no timber to spare for export. Her 

 forest resources are none too great for 

 home consumption. A limited quantity 

 of mahogany and especially tropical hard 

 woods along the coast will be exported, 

 as it is not available for economic trans- 

 ])ortation to the interior. 



On the low moist lands a jungle of 

 vines, nndergrowths and numerous plants 

 having no commercial importance for 

 wood are growing among the valuable 



