26 INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY—PUBLICATION NO, 4 
in evidence. In the Quezaltenango-Totonicapan 
Valley area, for example, they are little planted, and 
almost never appear in the markets of that region. 
Only at Santiago Atitlan have I seen field plant- 
ings of gilisquiles. The entire fruit is planted, one 
or two in a hole, separated from the next by as much 
as 4 or 5 yards (3.7 to 4.6 m.), the vines climbing 
widely over the great lava blocks. Most of the field 
plantings of giiisquil are to be found on the large 
alluvial plain (El Plan) south of Santiago. 
I was told at Santiago that the principal harvest 
of giiisquiles was in November. Greens were gath- 
ered in particular abundance in September. The 
plant is perennial, and a large vine gives a copious 
annual harvest. Tax reported 150 fruits a year at 
Panajachel (Tax, 1936, Ms. Panajachel). Bukasov 
gives 100 a year as the average number of fruits 
from a mature vine in Mexico (total of 200 to 500 
during a 4- to 6-year lifetime), where the root crop 
(cut annually) materializes after the second or third 
year. Roots of 22 pounds are recorded after many 
years in the ground (Bukasov, 1930). I have seen 
“wild giiisquil’*! (chimachéj}) roots of this size sold 
in markets between Quezaltenango and Momoste- 
nango, in the region where it is widely used as a 
soap for washing wool, in preference to all others 
for this special purpose. 
MANIOC 
Along many of the alluvial fans that border Lake 
Atitlan, sweet manioc, or cassava, is planted in 
limited plots. This altitude (1,600 m. or 5,249 it.) 
is about the upper limit of the cultivation of manioc, 
which is grown typically and almost exclusively in 
such sites as the one herein described. The small 
alluvial area (not over 2 or 3 acres) below Santa 
Cruz, as it appeared on December 21, 1935, will 
serve as an illustration. In addition to a bit of milpa 
30 paces (meters) square, containing a few squashes 
and bottle gourds (tecomates), and bordered by such 
fruit trees as oranges (7), limas (5), jocotes (12 
chicha, 6 petapa, 6 corona) (pl. 19, c), mangoes (6), 
matasanos, injertos, and bananas (“majunche” var.), 
was a bed of manioc 15 paces square. The plants, 
a little over a year old, were from 7 to 9 feet (2.1 to 
2.7 m.) high, and were spaced about 5 feet apart. 
%1 Bukasov stated that Chayota edulis is ‘‘apparently not known in 
wild state,’ and reported a wild relative only in Costa Rica (Bukasov, 
1930, p. 319). I have been unable to identify the chimachdéj which is 
so widespread both in growth (apparently to high altitudes) and use 
in the Totonicapan region, But probably it is either C. edulis “in 
wild state” or a wild relative, as the natives say. Giitsquil is chima in 
Kekchi (Standley, 1930, p. 437), and I recorded at Santiago Atitlan 
“ch’imaiy” (Zutuhil) and at San Andrés Xecul ‘‘ch’ima” (Quiché). 
Just above the manioc was a plot of miltomates, 15 by 
30 paces, and a single row of sugarcane, for home 
consumption. A large area then flooded by the Lake 
had formerly been planted to tomatoes, squash, maize, 
sweetpotato, and especially manioc. 
At Panajachel, rows of manioc, the plants spaced 
about 10 feet apart, are often planted between vege- 
table tablones. 
TOMATOES 
In nearly all of the Lake-shore villages, tomatoes 
are planted in special gardens bordering the water 
so as to facilitate hand irrigation. They are particu- 
larly abundant and important at Santiago, San 
Antonio, and San Lucas, with San Pedro, Santa 
Cruz, and San Marcos secondary. Tomatoes from all 
five of these towns reach Highland markets as far 
west as Quezaltenango, taken by Lake villagers and 
by Totonicapan middlemen. Fewest tomatoes are 
grown at Panajachel and San Pablo (dry-season 
planting at both). Very small culebra**? medium 
criollo (1 to 2 in.) and large “American” (U. S.) 
varieties (San Pedro) are grown. At Santiago, 
which is taken as an illustration, mostly tomatoes 
“del pais” or criollo are cultivated. The major plant- 
ing is done between August and October. After the 
rains stop, around the end of October, watering is 
necessary every third day, morning and afternoon, 
and is usually performed by the entire family. The 
growing season is 7 months. The usual practice with 
dry-season tomatoes is to plant. them about 4 feet 
(1.2 m.) apart, in large mounds of soft, rich alluvial 
sandy loams (to which fertilizer is added in many 
cases), with a round hollow over a foot across in each 
hill, for retaining water (pl. 20, d). Almost all are 
within 100 yards (91 m.) of the Lake shore. Water- 
ing is usually done with water jars (tinajas), or- 
dinarily women’s vessels (pl. 25, f), but here used by 
men and women alike. Gourde are also sometimes 
employed. At Santiago, large lava rocks that cover 
the slopes are painted with round whitewash spots 
6 or 8 inches (15 to 20 cm.) in diameter, “for 
frightening blackbirds, skunks, and other pests,” 
according to one inhabitant. 
Tomatoes are less abundantly grown during the 
rainy season, when they seem to be inferior and are 
most expensive, often costing 10 cents a pound dur- 
ing the late months. During Holy Week, they are 
cheapest, one-fifth of a cent a pound. 
23 Planted in June and harvested during the dry season, mainly at 
San Antonio. 
*3 Growing season usually entire dry period (October—-May). 
