62 



INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY PUBLICATION NO. 6 



bigotera beam with the plow set slightly deeper than 

 for the preceding operation is the rule. Since the 

 earth is now fairly soft the plow moves more rapidly; 

 still, a timing operation showed a speed of only 20 m. 

 a minute. The earth is now ready for sowing when 

 the first heavy rains come. In 1945, which was an 

 average year, the first sowing was done on June 1, 

 after a couple of heavy rains. The date may vary 

 from a week earlier to two weeks later. 



(3) To sow, the plow is pulled at right angles to 

 the wide furrows, at the same spacing of 80 cm., to 

 open the surcadn. The bigotera beam is used. This 

 results in "crosses" 80 cm. apart over the entire field. 

 The ideal sowing team consists of two juntas or ox 

 teams, with driver, and two or three boys to drop the 

 seed. With a bowl or small sack of maize the first 

 boy follows the ox team which is making the new 

 furrow, and each time it crosses another furrow at 

 right angles, he drops three grains. A second boy 

 follows with beans, placing one in each cross. If 

 squash is to be planted, a third boy drops a squash 

 seed at the same spot. Thus, all three plants are sown 

 at the same position. The following plow, with the 

 bigote mocho beam, runs 10 cm. to one side of the 

 furrow and with the long "ear" of the beam throws 

 earth over the first furrow, covering the seed. 



(4) Two to three weeks later the maize will have 

 sprouted, and be 10 to 20 cm. tall, ready for the first 

 beneficio, or cultivation, the escarda. The plow passes 

 the row of sprouting maize on the opposite side from 

 which it was covered, with the stub end of the bi- 

 gote mocho beam toward the plants. This furrow is 

 made primarily to loosen the earth. At the end of the 

 furrow the driver turns and comes back in the same 

 furrow, this time with the long "ear" of the beam 

 toward the plants. This "ear" heaps the soft soil over 

 and around the new stalks. A couple of boys are 

 necessary to follow the plow, walking astride the line 

 of corn with a foot in each opposite furrow, heaping 

 the earth around the plants to strengthen them, and 

 perhaps uncovering smaller ones which had too much 

 earth thrown on top. 



(5) Three weeks later the maize should be 30 to 

 40 cm. tall, and is ready for the trozada, or the segun- 

 da cultivation, as it is often called. This time the 

 plow is provided with the orejera beam, with ears 20 

 to 25 cm. long; it is set somewhat deeper than for the 

 previous cultivation. The oxen are driven at right 

 angles to the furrows of planting and escarda, equi- 

 distant between the two rows of corn. This heaps 

 up earth on both lines of plants, instead of one, so 

 that double the number of boys is needed to heap 

 this loose earth around each stalk. Since there is one 

 furrow only instead of two. as for the escarda, consid- 

 erably less time is needed. 



(6) About three weeks later, or during the first 

 half of August, the maize should be from 45 to 60 cm. 

 tall, and is ready for the third beneficio, the lablon. 

 This is with the large eared orejera beam, as for the 

 trozada, and the plow is set for its deepest cut. Mid- 

 way between the two rows, and at right angles to the 

 trozada, that is, parallel to the line of sowing, the 



plow cuts a very deep furrow, heaping earth on each 

 line of plants. One or two boys must be on hand for 

 any necessary piling of earth around the plants, which 

 are now quite strong and well rooted. 



(7) Often after the final cultivation one must cha- 

 ponear, weed with a machete, especially along the ed- 

 ges of the lake where the weeds grow more luxuri- 

 antly. This may be done on several different days, in 

 an informal manner when the farmer has spare time, 

 and in addition to clearing the field produces fodder 

 for domestic animals. 



In summary, the necessary plowings for this 

 complete treatment of the earth, sowing en cruz, 

 are as follows: plowing of field in closely spa- 

 ced furrows, plowing at right angles in equally 

 close furrows, making the surcada parallel to 

 first plowing, in which seeds are dropped, a 

 parallel furrow to cover the seeds, two paral- 

 lel furrows for the escarda, a deep furrow at 

 right angles for the trozada, and a final deeper 

 furrow parallel to sowing, the tablon. This 

 elaborate process, as will be seen, is limited 

 by the nature of the ground to the level land 

 near the lake. Even here it is often skimped, 

 if the farmer is busy or lazy or the soil is fairlv 

 damp and soft. Minimum treatment consists in 

 plowing the field back and forth, in one line 

 only, exactly as for the first step described. 

 Then at right angles the surcadas for sowing 

 are opened, and covered in standard fashion. 

 The escarda is done exactly as for the better 

 prepared land. Instead of a trozada a second 

 escarda, this time one furrow only, is done. 

 Since the maize was not sown in crosses the 

 plants do not line up at right angles, and cross 

 plowing is impossible. The final tablon may be 

 omitted. 



This maize process varies somewhat on the 

 hillside milpas. The original plowing follows 

 the contours of the land, and hence may be 

 somewhat irregular. Because of erosion, the 

 cross plowing cannot be done. Planting and the 

 escarda are done exactly as described above, 

 always following the countour of the hillside. 

 For the same reason of erosion, the trozada, 

 equidistant between two furrows, is parallel to 

 the line of sowing, and not crossed. A tablon 

 may or may not be given. Hence, in contrast to 

 the cross plowing which is possible on flat land, 

 all plowing is in one direction, parallel to con- 

 tours. The wisdom of this system is apparent 

 the morning after a rainy night: parallel ditches 



