CULTIVATION OF MAIZE. 



329 



and manioc. Advancing towards the central plains, 

 we meet with fields of this important plant all the 

 way from the coast to the valley of Tolucca, which 

 is upwards of 9186 feet above the sea. Although a 

 great quantity of other grain is produced in Mexico, 

 this must be considered as the principal food of the 

 people, as well as of most of the domestic animals, 

 and the year in which the maize harvest fails is one 

 of famine and misery to the inhabitants. There is 

 no longer a doubt among botanists that this plant is 

 of American origin, and that the Old Continent re- 

 ceived it from the New. 



It does not thrive in Europe where the mean tem- 

 perature is less than 44° or 46° ; and on the Cordil- 

 leras of New-Spain rye and barley are seen to vege- 

 tate vigorously where the cultivation of maize would 

 not be attended with success. On the other hand, 

 the latter thrives in the lowest plains of the torrid 

 zone, where wheat, barley, and rye are not found. 

 Hence we cannot be surprised to hear that it occu- 

 pies a much greater extent in equinoctial America 

 than the grains of the Old Continent. 



The fecundity of the Mexican variety is astonishing. 

 Fertile lands usually afford a return of 300 or 400 

 fold, and in the neighbourhood of Valladolid a har- 

 vest is considered defective when it yields only 130 

 or 150. Even where the soil is most steril the pro- 

 duce varies from sixty to eighty. The general esti- 

 mate for the equinoctial region of Mexico may be 

 considered as a hundred and fifty. 



Of all the gramina cultivated by man, none is so 

 unequal as this in its produce, as it varies in the same 

 field, according to the season, from forty to 200 or 300 

 for one. If the harvests are good, the agriculturist 

 makes his fortune more rapidly than with any other 

 grain ; but frightful dearths sometimes occur, when 

 the natives are obliged to feed on unripe fruit, cactus- 

 berries, and roots. Diseases arise in consequence ; 

 and these famines are usually attended with a great 

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