CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY OF SOUTHWEST GUATEMALA—McBRYDE 31 
nishes water to every portion where gardens are to 
be found (map 23). In addition to the main course 
of the Rio Panajachel, there are several small tribu- 
taries entering near the mouth. 
_ Major crops.—The crops grown in tablones are 
mainly coles and alliaceous plants of Old World 
origin, with onions taking first rank (pls. 12, a; 14, f). 
Though some local inhabitants say that onions have 
surpassed garlic in quantity only in recent years, that 
such is probably not the case is evidenced by Mrs. 
Maudslay’s statement, “To the Indian the chief glory 
of Panajachel is not its aguacates but its onions 
.” (Maudslay, 1898, p. 58). Her description 
of the delta indicates that it has changed but little 
since 1894 (ibid., p.57). Of the entire garden area of 
the north Lake basin, onions (always sold while small 
and green) represent probably 75 percent 4* of the 
total garden output. Garlic is also important at 
Panajachel, but this importance gets undue emphasis 
in the neighboring markets from the fact that garlic 
is not grown in the higher gardens, as around Solola, 
since it is too high and cold; and the big garlic 
center, Aguacatan, is far away ‘to the north. 
Minor crops.—Other important tablén crops 
(Solola) are cauliflower, carrots, parsley, beets, cab- 
bages, turnips, radishes, lettuce, and potatoes (the 
only American crop, and that not a local species). 
At Panajachel, it is too warm for potatoes; other- 
wise, the delta crops include all those grown higher 
up. On the other hand, there are many plants which, 
like garlic, will not bear well or even grow in the 
higher elevations of the Solola area; some of these 
are sweetpotatoes, manioc, and chiles, all of American 
tropical origin. Beans are planted in tablénes only at 
Panajachel ; results were said to be too poor for them 
at Solola.4® 
Peas are minor at both centers; miltomate (husk 
cherry), both cultivated and naturalized, grows well 
in the latter. Native American crops (though most 
of them presumably of South American origin) 
almost equal European ones in number at Panajachel, 
whereas at Solola only the potato is American, and 
that from South America by way of Europe. Of 
South American origin also are pepinos, which, 
though not planted in tablénes, are very important 
at Panajachel (pl. 20, d). Some strawberries (Fra- 
44 My 1932 estimate for Solol4 was 75 to 80 percent; Tax reported 
nearly two-thirds at Panajachel, garlic production being less than one- 
tenth that for onions. 
# Saltwort is mentioned by Tax as a minor tablén plant at Pana- 
jachel. Tax also introduced broccoli in 1937, and reported several 
families growing it. 
garis chiloensis) are grown in gardens, mostly by 
Ladinos and foreigners. 
Though these two vegetable centers are removed 
by less than 5 miles, Panajachel, being nearly 600 m. 
(1,968 ft.) lower, and strongly influenced by Lake 
Atitlan, borders on a tropical climate, whereas Solola 
is truly in the mesothermal “tierra fria.” 
Growing seasons.—Growing seasons vary with 
the different plants. For garlic it is about 6 months, 
single cloves usually being planted at the end of the 
rainy season. Onions, planted throughout the year, 
are transplanted at 3 months, when they are about 8 
inches (20 m.) high, and require another 3 months 
for maturity at Panajachel, and slightly longer at 
Solola.4® 
Often garlic, cabbages, manioc, and especially 
sweetpotatoes, are set out along the borders of onion 
tablones. Much space is devoted in small plots also 
to maize and pepinos on the delta (pl. 20, b, d). The 
latter crop is irrigated. 
ALMOLONGA 
Other than the Solola-Panajachel area, there 
is only one major vegetable-producing center 
in Southwest Guatemala, namely, Almolonga, in a 
tributary valley of the Rio Samala, southeast of 
Quezaltenango. This is said to be a recent center— 
important only since about 1910. The stream fur- 
nishes water for irrigation; also, there are lateral 
springs. Water from these and from ditches is 
scooped up and thrown over gardens by means of 
wooden boxes on 6-foot handles. Here the same 
vegetables are planted as at Solola, onions (all year) 
and cabbages (rainy season only) being outstanding 
in both places, with carrots, turnips, beets, radishes, 
and lettuce abundant as well. Many sorts of flowers 
are also cultivated. Tomatoes and garlic will not bear 
well at Almolonga. The former are grown on a 
large scale about 2 miles down the canyon, at Zunil, 
and are sold in quantity by Zunilefios. 
In Almolonga, also as at Solola, there is a group 
of traders who specialize in handling fresh vege- 
tables and flowers. These are sold in all the neigh- 
boring Highland markets by Almolonguefios, many 
also trucking them in great numbers to piedmont 
plazas. For the most part, women do the selling 
48 See McBryde, 1933, fig. 12, p. 108. On the high slopes above 
Solola (2,500 m. or 8,202 ft.) 4 to 5 months is the necessary length 
of each growing period, from seed to shoot, as well as from shoot to 
maturity. For seed, onions are left in the tablén for about 3 or 4 
additional months, then they are harvested and hung up inside to dry. 
