PRODUCTION OF COTTON VAINILLA. 



71 



caliente of Mexico, this is not requisite, as the tree propagates 

 itself, and the laborers are only required to keep the fields clear of 

 extraneous plants which spring up so rapidly and luxuriantly in 

 tropical climates. 



Notwithstanding the advantages offered by the erection of the 

 factories in Mexico, the best data obtained by Don Lucas Alaman 

 in 1843, presented only the following meagre returns of the proxi- 

 mate quantity of cotton raised in some of the states of the republic, 

 excluding, of course, the small parcels raised by Mestizos and In- 

 dians for their private consumption: 



ARROBAS. LBS. 



In the state of Jalisco, . . 1,000 or 25,000 



" " Sonora, . . . 3,500 ." 87,500 



" « Durango, . . 3,044 " 76,100 



" " Oajaca, . . . 21,583 " 539,576 



" " Puebla, . . 3,738 " 93,450 



" " Vera Cruz, . . 14,496 " 362,400 



47,361 "1,184,025 

 In this estimate the cleaned and uncleaned, or ginned and un- 

 ginned cotton are averaged together. It is generally considered, 

 however, that the whole country really produces at present about 

 seventy thousand quintals or seven millions of pounds. 



The quantity, and consequently the value of the Mexican cotton 

 crop has been very variable. At Tepic on the west coast, in 

 whose vicinity there are many valuable factories, it has been sold 

 as low as fifteen dollars per quintal ; while at Vera Cruz on the 

 east coast it has risen to twenty- two and twenty- four dollars, and, 

 in Puebla and the city of Mexico it has reached even to forty and 

 forty-eight dollars. Cotton gins have been established at Alva- 

 rado, at Cosamaloapan, and Tuxtla on the northern and eastern 

 coasts, and at Tepic, on the west ; but they are not sufficiently 

 numerous throughout the country to supply even the present limited 

 production. 



Vainilla. 



Mexico is generally considered the native country of the de- 

 licious vainilla bean, which grows wild along the eastern coast 

 amid the endless variety of parasitic plants with which the forests 

 are filled. It is a native of Vera Cruz, Oajaca and Tabasco. On 

 the wooded mountain or hill slopes of the latter it has been dis- 

 covered in great quantities ; but throughout Mexico this pleasant 



