I.AND QUESTION AND PROPOSALS OP THE AGRICUW URAL COMMISSION III 



gradually rises to a vast plateau interrupted by mountains of a height 

 varying from 1,200 to 2,400 metres above the sea. 



This special configuration catises extraordinary differences in temper- 

 ature and in climate. It is usual to di\'ide the country, with regard to 

 climate, into three regions, the warm, the temperate and the cold. The warm 

 region extends from the coast to an altitude of 900 metres ; the mean annual 

 temperature is from 26° to 31^ Centigrade, and the maximum from 370 

 to 390. In this region the winter cHmate in delightful; however, north 

 winds blow at intervals, and in a few hours reduce the temperature by 10 

 or 20 degrees. 



At 900 metres above sea level the temperate region begins, extending 

 to an altitude of 1,980 metres, with an annual mean temperature of from 

 22° to 250 C. and the variations in a season are never more than from 6° to 8°. 

 This region has the best climate in Mexico; ice is unknown, nor is there 

 excessive humidity, and there are no noxious insects, nor sudden changes of 

 temperature. 



The cold region, cold in contrast to the heat at the coast, is found 

 between heights of 1,980 and 3,810 metres, the snow level in the tropics. 

 The mean temperature is from 14 to 16^ with some slight variations; 

 sometimes, in winter, when the north wind prevails, there are light falls of 

 snow in the cit}^ of Mexico and the thermometer goes down to 50 or even 

 to 20. At Toluca and other places in the highest mountain districts the 

 temperature sometimes goes down as low as — 5°. 



In the territory of Mexico, extremely unequal in level, are man}' chains 

 of mountains with enormous mineral treasures. 



We may mention the great Sierra INladre of the Pacihc, and the Sierra 

 Anahuac with the eminent peaks of Popocatepetl (5,410 metres) and 

 Ixtacciatl (4,900 metres). 



In the whole country there is no great permanent water-course and the 

 great variations in level of the beds of the rivers in general are unfavour- 

 able for na\dgation. On the other hand, the waterfalls caused by these 

 conditions furnish immense motor power, W-hich may greatly favour the in- 

 dustrial development of the country and its agriculture. And these same con- 

 ditions favour the formation of ponds and artificial lakes for irrigation 

 purposes. The most important rivers in Mexico are the Rio Grande, the 

 Rio Lernia, which forms the cascades of Junacatlan, called the JNIexican 

 Niagara, utilised by the Cotton Manufacturing Company and by the Electric 

 Works of Guadalajara. There is also the Rio Ato^'^ac, of which the seven 

 falls give a total of 23,000 horse power. 



Mexico is divided politically into one federal district, 3 territories 

 and 27 States. Of the states that of Jalisco is looked on as the granary 

 of the RepubHc on account of its immense cereal crops, Morelos grows the 

 greatest quantity of sugar cane, Chihuahua is noted for Hvestock improve- 

 ment, Veracruz for the cultivation of tropical plants, Durango for the cot- 

 ton of Lagunas. The most important industrial centres are Orizaba, Puehla, 

 Monterey etc. 



