AGRICULTURE. 5 



This climate is very favourable for agricul- 

 ture, — the soil particularly rich. There are 

 two crops annually, and with industry they 

 might be easily reaped. The plain which 

 lies at the base of this city, is principally 

 divided into Fotraras,* for grazing cattle and 

 feeding horses. Here and there are villages 

 scattered over this plain^ which is of consi- 

 derable extent ; round the houses are gardens 

 which supply the market of the metropolis 

 with vegetables : a large portion of the plain 

 is inundated during the whole year. But 

 little corn is grown, the principal fields for 

 grain being in plains on the other side of the 

 mountains of Zipaquira, whence it is con- 

 veyed by mules to the capital. It is the cus- 

 tom of the country to use the plough in the 

 cold districts, and the hoe in the hotter, or 

 lower level ; but I feel convinced that were 

 our English ploughs introduced here, it would 



* Potraras, inclosed fields for pasturage, similar to those 

 in Leicestershire. 



