16 



SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 



CHAPTER XXI. 



Agriculture. — Wheat. — Bailey. — Indian Corn, or Maize. — 

 Fricollis. — Bananas. — The Great Aloe. — Pulque. 



The agriculturists of New Spain, like their 

 artists and manufacturers, are considerably 

 behind those of Europe. The fineness of the 

 soil and climate renders less labour and 

 management necessary than with us ; and the 

 laying of manure on the land seems to be 

 little practised. The outskirts of the cities 

 furnish this article in abundance, yet it re- 

 mains unemployed. Irrigation has been used 

 from the earliest period. In ploughing, a 

 simple wooden plough, pointed with iron, is 

 used, which is drawn by two oxen, fastened 

 to it by the horns; it is directed by an Indian, 



