MOCHE; A PERUVIAN COASTAL COMMUNITi'— GII.LIN 



19 



hi? fellows during the following days. I have not 

 had the opportunity to observe a large number of 

 these work parties over a long period of time, but in- 

 formants state that, contrary to expectations, they are 

 not permanent or organized, i.e., members of the same 

 groups do not \;xchange work with one another in- 

 variably year after year, with an organization of 

 leadership, etc. However, there does seem to be a 

 natural tendcnc}- toward a relative permanency 

 among neighbors. Although relatives are frequently 

 included in the planting parties, there seems to be no 

 rule to this effect. 



Techniques involved with a few of the more com- 

 mon field crops can be briefly described as follows. 



Alfalfa, which occupies perhaps three-fifths of the 

 cultivated land of Moche at present, is always planted 

 in the same field with sorghum (sorgo) ,-^ as illus- 

 trated (pi. 3, upper and lower (left)). Patches of 

 alfalfa 2 to 3 m. wide-- alternate with rows of 

 sorghum in parallel series across the field. Alfalfa 

 seed is purchased in the tiendas in the pueblo, or 

 threshed by the farmer himself. It is sown broadcast 

 from a cloth bag. 



The earth where the rows of sorghum are to be 

 planted is usually heaped up by the plow in a ridge 

 about 3 inches above the surface of the alfalfa bed be- 

 fore planting. The sorghum is then planted in shal- 

 low holes about 1 m. apart or less near the base of 

 the ridge of earth. Six seeds are placed in each hole. 

 Another method is to plant the sorghum in two 

 parallel ridges made by plowing two furrows, side by 

 side, one in each direction to produce a shallow irri- 

 gation channel between them — a "female furrow." 

 The sorghum shoots up faster than the alfalfa and ap- 

 pears as a line of tufts of light green above the darker 

 green of the surrounding young alfalfa. By this 

 combination of the two plants, one is able to obtain 

 forage for cattle within 10 to 14 days after planting, 

 without waiting for the alfalfa to produce a crop. 

 Many such fields are used simply as pasture, with the 

 cattle being turned in as soon as the sorghum has 

 reached a height of 9 inches or a foot. Some sorghum 

 and alfalfa is cut with a sickle and carried to other 



» A list of scientific names of certain plants with remarks con- 

 cerning their origin, follows this section. This list is given only as 

 an aid to the reader interested in the matter. The scientific names 

 have been culled from the literature and the records of the Museo 

 Arqueoldgico "Rafael Larco Herrera" in Chich'ii. 



=" I may be making too much of this, but informants repeatedly 

 insisted that the alfalfa patches {melgares\ were 5 to 6 m. wide, 

 whereas on inspection I W3~ unable to find one more than 3 m. wide. 

 This tendency to exaggerate numerical values occurs fairly frequently. 

 Whether it represents an nicomplele association of the numerical sym- 

 bol with its referent or a form of ego inflation through the telling of 

 a good story, I am unable to say with certainty at present. 



places on the farm as cattle feed, while a not incon- 

 siderable quantity of both crops is carried on donkey- 

 back to Trujillo for sale fresh, mostly to the army as 

 feed for its horses. One of my friends reported that 

 during one morning he counted 23 donkey loads pass 

 the chacra where he was working, en route to Trujil- 

 lo. Finally, a farmer may sell part of his crop to 

 other farmers in temporary need of cattle feed. 

 Sorghum and alfalfa are always cut and used fresh, 

 if cut at all. No dried haystacks are to be found in 

 the Moche area. In the pueblo there is a cement silo, 

 erected some years ago by a progressive jorastero, 

 which apparently has been a failure. Sorghum and 

 cornstalks put into it as ensilage are said to spoil and 

 become useless as cattle feed. Whether this is due 

 to climate or faulty technique, I do not know. Four 

 to six crops of alfalfa per year are expected, if the 

 crop i.s cut. For seed, alfalfa is cut ripe and piled up 

 to drj-. It is then either carried to the house or 

 threshed in the field. At all events a mat (petate) is 

 placed under the pile, which is then pounded with 

 a heavy stick. (This is not hinged like the old- 

 fashioned American flails.) This treatment is to 

 samr la gavilla (break up the stalks and bunches). 

 Afterward the alfalfa is picked up in .small bunches 

 and these are whipped over a basket with a small stick 

 or switch to knock off the seeds. Occasionally the 

 highland method of threshing wheat is used. The 

 alfalfa is spread out on a hard dirt floor with a heavy 

 stake or post set up in the middle. A pair or more of 

 horses are driven round a.nd round the stake, and 

 after this the residue is tossed into the air and 

 winnowed in the wind. 



Corn (maize) is planted in rows about 18 inches 

 apart, hilled up with the spade or plow before plant- 

 ing into low ridges produced by plowing a furrow. 

 Corn is frequently planted with lentils (lentejas) in 

 the same hole. The holes are about 3 feet (1 pace) 

 apart. The method is to place two kernels of corn 

 and three seeds of lentil in the first hole, three kernels 

 of corn and two seeds of lentil in the second hole, 

 and so on successively. The planter is usually fol- 

 lowed by another person who covers the hole and 

 tamps it down with his feet. Lentils are often 

 harvested before the corn has eared, but hard, dry 

 lentils may also be harvested even after the corn 

 has been husked. Lentils are harvested, as a rule, 

 by pulling them up by the roots and carrying the 

 whole plant to a convenient spot where the seeds 

 are taken out of the pods or (in the case of green 

 lentils) the pods are removed from the plant. Corn 



