74 



FRUIT AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS. 



mittees of encouragement, and although the trees have most gener- 

 ally grown well, it is to be feared that the enterprise resembled the 

 wild speculations in that species of mulberry which, about the same 

 period, both made and lost so many fortunes in the United States. 

 The cultivation of silk has been warmly urged by Don Lucas Ala- 

 man, as exceedingly suitable for the state of Oajaca, where, in the 

 course of time, it may replace the cochineal whose product it 

 is said is beginning to fail in that district. 



Fruits. 



The finest fruits of Mexico are commonly found in the tierra 

 caliente. The orange, lemon, lime, pine apple, banana, chirimoya, 

 sapote, ahuacate, tuna, granadita, are produced in great perfection. 

 The apples, peaches, cherries, grapes and gooseberries do not 

 possess the high flavor, nor are they found in the same varieties, 

 as in the United States ; but the pears, especially those known as 

 Gamboa pears, are exceedingly delicious. Nearly all these fruits 

 are consumed in their natural state, yet immense quantities are pre- 

 served and form the extraordinary varieties of dulces without which 

 no Mexican table is considered properly set forth. It is very pro- 

 bable that if horticulture and agriculture were scientifically studied 

 by Mexicans, or if North American and European gardeners were to 

 emigrate to the country, even the fruits which are now inferior to 

 ours, would improve in quality, size and flavor under their skilful 

 management. 



Agricultural Prospects. 



From all that we have already stated in regard to the Indian or 

 laboring population of Mexico, the nature of the seasons, and the 

 want of irrigation in many districts, except by artificial means, it 

 will be perceived that the agricultural progress of the country is 

 extremely doubtful. In addition to this, the land belongs to a 

 few proprietors, many of whom own estates of twenty, thirty, forty, 

 fifty, and even a hundred leagues square, which are chiefly devoted 

 to herds instead of agriculture. Mexico is thus rather in the pas- 

 toral than the commercial age, and must pass through the transi- 

 tion state of independent sub-divided labor before she can stand, na- 

 turally, upon the same platform with northern and European nations. 



The early Spanish settlers were eager monopolists of mines and 

 land. Their object was to realize fortunes speedily; and by a 

 liberal repartimiento of Indians they were enabled to found large 

 estates upon which those Indians either toiled as husbandmen or 



