QUIROGA: a MEXICAN MUNICIPIO — BRAND 



125 



quantities, and compounds of phosphorus, potas- 

 sium, magnesium, manganese, titanium, and 

 barium. 



No scientific study has been made as yet of the 

 soils of the Quiroga area. However, the Secre- 

 taria de Agricultura y Foment© (guided by the 

 imder-secretary Gonzalez Gallardo, an outstand- 

 ing soil scientist) and the Comisi6n Nacional de 

 Irrigaci6n^* (Departamento Agronomico) dufing the 

 past 20 years have initiated a modern scientific 

 study of Mexican soils. Since the money, staff, 

 and time available have been restricted, most of 

 the study has been in the larger areas subject to 

 irrigation and development. This means that the 

 porous mountain lands of volcanic origin, the 

 steeper slopes, and the small upland valleys will 

 not be studied for some time. Nevertheless, 

 nearby areas in the Rio Grande de Morelia, 

 Zacapu-Rio Angulo, and Lower Lerma-Chapala 

 Basins have been studied and reported upon; and 

 several generalized soil maps of Mexico exist. 

 During 1945 and 1946 we obtained soil samples 

 (the analyses of four of which are given below), 

 took numerous field notes, and discussed soils 

 with farmers in different parts of the area. Our 

 information and conclusions are summarized here- 

 with. 



Locally there are many ways of classifying lands 

 and soils — by texture, color, form of use, location, 

 water content, saline content, humus content, 

 productivity, etc. A mixture of Spanish, Taras- 

 can, and Mexicano words is employed. Some of 

 the more common terms are as follows: 



Texture and struelure 

 English and scientific Spanish and Indian 



Claypau or substratum Tepetale, caliche. 



Clay Arcilla. 



Crumby structure Migaj6n. 



Clay loam Migaj6n arcilloso. 



Ash; loess Ceniza; legarao. 



Silt; dust Limo, lama, fango; polvo. 



Alluvium Alluvi6n. 



Silts Limos, polvillos. 



Loam, open soil Suelo franco. 



Silt loam Migaj6n limoso. 



Sandy loam Migaj6n arenoso 



Sand Arena, cutzari. 



Gravel Grava. 



Pebbles ; rocks Guijarros ; piedras. 



Rocky soil; scabland Tierra pedregosa; malpais. 



Heavy; light Pesado; liviano. 



3» Since this monograph was written these two entities have been changed 

 to: Secretaria de Agricultura y Ganaderla and Secretarfa de Recursos 

 Hidr&ulicos. 



Color and chemical content 



English and scientific Spanith and Indian 



White ; grayish Tierra blanca ; pardusca. 



Yellow earth Tierra amarilia, tupura. 



Red earth Tierra roja, colorada, ber- 



meja, charanda. 



Brown earth CaS6, caf6 obscure. 



Black earth Tierra negra, prieta. 



Oakleaf humus Tierra tocura. 



CaCOa, MgCOa, NaNOs Caliche, tepetatc (in part). 



impregnated soil. 



Calcareous, CaCOa Suelo calcareo, calizo, cal, 



tizate 



Gypsum Yeso, uiras. 



Black alkali; NaaCOa and Alcali negro, tequesquite 



other carbonates. 



White alkali; chlorides and Alcali bianco, salitre. 



sulfates of Na, Mg; 



chlorides of Ca, K. 



Water content, use, position 

 English and scientific Spanish and Indian 



Swampy Pantanoso, cienegoso. 



Moist, humid Tierra de humedad, jugo. 



Irrigated Tierra de riego. 



Slime, mud, clay Limo, lodo, barro, atsimu. 



Not irrigated Temporal. 



Dry Seca. 



Lowland, plain Bajo, llano, plan. 



Slope Ladera. 



Hilly, rough Cerril. 



Farmland, cropland, field, Tierra, labor, milpa, tareta, 

 plot. terrene. 



Soil; floor Suelo; echerendo. 



Earth; soil Tierra; echeri. 



Pasture Pa.stal. 



Scrubland Monte bajo. 



Woodland Monte alto. 



Productiveness, miscellaneous 

 English and scientific Spanish and Indian 



First class 1» clase; jugo er humedad; pel- 

 villas; migai6n; alluvi6n; riege: 

 tamaquatarca. 



Second class 2" clase. 



Third class 3» clase. 



Fourth class 4' clase. 



Tropical, hot Tierra caliente. 



Subtropical, warm Tierra templada. 



Temperate, cool Tierra fria. 



Microthermal, cold Tierra helada. 



Forest brown Caf6 de bosque, caf6 forestal. 



Oak forest ; pine forest. _ Encinal ; pinal, 

 Prairie, savanna Pradera. 



Many of the above-listed terms are used in 

 combination; e. g., temporal de primera (unirri- 

 gated land of good quality, dependent upon the 

 summer rains), and riego de segunda (second-class 

 irrigated land). The most common sets of classi- 



