OUR CROPS 51 



her rope in all the futility of maternal un- 

 easiness. 



Equally anxious, though from a different 

 cause, the ranchera stands at the kitchen 

 door, shading her eyes from the blinding 

 morning radiance. 



' Juan, have we got the water ?' 

 ' Si, senora,' cheerily. 

 ' Ah, that's good ! Now, hold on to it' 

 ' Bueno, senora.' 



And the bare brown legs, tall hat, and 

 clumsy hoe disappear under the orchard 

 trees. 



If there is any more entrancing sound than 

 the hissing of water after long drought into 

 cracked and thirsty land, or a more refresh- 

 ing sight than that of the brown torrent 

 spreading cool fingers over the face of dry 

 and heated meadows, this ranchera is not 

 acquainted with either. 



It is no easy task for an enthusiastic farm- 

 ing person to tell of the agricultural methods, 

 the fruits, the vegetables, the crops, of this 

 productive Valley without waxing tedious to 

 those for whom farming matters are simply 

 a bore. Yet there is one process, that of 



42 



