128 MEXICO - inSCELLANBOUS 



To the inefficiency of the systems of cultivation must be added the want 

 of irrigation works, indispensable to the countr3\ 



With the exception of certain hydraulic works, such as those of Atoyac 

 in the State of Puebla, there are no others to regulate the effects of the seas- 

 ons on 'he crops; thus ti e harvests depend exclusively on the lesser or great- 

 er rainfall. Considering the extent of the country, the permanent water- 

 courses are numerous, and during the rainy season from July to October, 

 many torrents, rivers and streams are formed, and fertilise the adjoining 

 land; but if the rains are excessive the effects are disastrous, for the water 

 overflows the fields, carrying away the future crops. 



But to remedy this by the necessary hydrauHc works and to increase 

 the area of arable land and the 3deld from it, capital is essential. 



Some steps have been already taken by the authorities to supply the need. 



In igo8 the Chambers voted a law authorising Government to devote 

 25,000,000 pesos to the utilisation of water for agriculture and livestock 

 improvement, whether the Government itself undertook the work or encour- 

 aged private enterprise by means of grants etc. 



The Government was also authorised to guarantee the capital and 

 interest of bonds issued by special credit institutes granting loans to mining, 

 agricultural or livestock improvement enterprises, but at present it can- 

 not guarantee a capital in bonds of more than 50,000,000 pesos. 



In virtue of this law, the Loan Bank for irrigation works and for the 

 encouragement of agriculture was at once founded with a capital of 10,000,000 

 pesos. This institution grants loans on mortgage for periods up to 15 years 

 and loans on the guarantee of a bank for a maximum period of three years. 

 The rate of interest must not exceed 7 % unless authorized by the Minister 

 of Finance, and must be lowered if the bank obtains funds at less than 5 %. 



3. — Agricultural Labour. — One of the greatest difficulties with which 

 llexican farming has to contend is the insufficiency of labour. This is 

 chiefly owing to the limited requirements of the natives ; the standard of 

 living for a Mexican labourer is so low that a few centavos are sufficient 

 for his needs. Thus, though his pay is very small, he thinks it absurd to work 

 continually since he can live for two days on one day's pay. 



The insufficiency of labourers has given r se to a characteristic 

 system of recruiting called enganche. If an employer thinks that he can 

 obtain the men he requires on a given holding he sends a man {engaii- 

 chador) to the neighbourhood to open a list. The terms he oft'ers are 

 fixed wages, a sum of money for travelling expenses for each family, the 

 immediate payment of all debts, and a part of the wages paid on account. 

 In a few days the list is complete for the sum paid on account decides 

 the labourers who do not see that in accepting it the}^ are binding them- 

 selves with a stronger chain. 



This system of recruiting has one great efect; it secures labourers, not 

 by offiering them a prospect of improving their position and obtaining 

 higher wages, but by the attraction of a small sum on account, which they 

 spend at the pubhc houses {pulquerias) , thus increasing the tendency to 



