Sartrmjer, 
GARDEN NOTES. 
iistussions. 
AMERICAN INST. FARMERS’ CLUB. 
Trained Chickens in the Garden. j 
An Arkansas correspondent of the South¬ 
ern Cultivator writes t.hat. Ins garden was 
overrun with bugs, and there was danger ^ 
the vines would all go, when he removed to ( 
the garden a hen and flill brood of chickens t 
half the size of partridges. The lieu was t 
confined in the coop and chicks allowed to * 
run, and in two days not a bug could bo 1 
found in the garden. i 
I low io Trap Moles. I 
A CORRESPONDENT writes:—“An old 
farmer told my grandmother to bait a jar 
with a beet or potato, and sink it under the 
mole’s track, having the upper edge of the I 
jar even with the lower part of the track, and 
cover it up so as to make It dark without in¬ 
terrupting the moles' passage, and she would 
entrap not only the moles, but the rats, which 
were the more destructive of the two.” 
Manure for Rhubarb. 
Ashes, whether leached or unleached, 
have never with me proved of much benefit 
to pie plant, on light, shkrp, sandy soil. In 
such soil my host, results are with manure 
from neat cattle. 1 obtain it fresh, and dig¬ 
it in, in the fall, around the plants to the. ex¬ 
tent of a border six feet wide, the manure at 
least three inches thick, if 1 neglect to do il. 
in the fall, then 1 take half-rotted manure 
and dig in as early in spring as I can work 
the ground. I have grown splendid pie 
plant by watering freely with manure water 
made from a leach of human excrement, and 
applying it twice a week in early spring, or 
thrice a week, even if the season is a rainy 
one.—F rank Amon. 
Pluming Cabbages in Autumn. 
The Plantation (Atlanta, Ga.) says that 
last November Mr. P. W. J. Echoes told us he 
had sown his cabbage seed for his early 
spring and summer crops; in February he 
bragged that he had finished transplanting, 
but before tho mouth was out wo had a 
freeze that made the soil in this section feel 
under foot like a granite flagstone. Our 
friend was rather blue in the face when, 
with a little Spice of malic©, we inquired 
the fate of the cabbage plants, lie said but 
little,but was still plucky. To-day, the 35th 
of April, it is his turn to laugh, lie pro¬ 
duces the measuring stick with which ho 
took the spread of one of these plants yes 
terday, and that stick is twenty-three inches 
long. If in thirty-three and a-half degrees, 
north latitude, cabbage plants can endure 
such a winter as we have just passed 
through, we may begin to adopt all over the 
country open air fall planting. Air. Echoes 
tells us that he does not believe in the hot¬ 
bed for starting early cabbage plants. The 
growth under glass seems to be so enfeebled 
that when transplanting takes place the ex¬ 
posure to sunshine and wind seems to retard 
the plants in their start, and they must un¬ 
dergo a sort of acclimation to these out-door 
influences which make them late and often 
of little account. Air. Echoes recommends 
a broad and thoroughly prepared bed on the 
south side of a closely built plank fence, 
whitewashed, as altogether preferable to a 
hot frame. 
How to Have Plenty of Cnciiiuhers. 
A correspondent of the Horticulturist 
writes:—T had a narrow border, not more 
than two and a-half feet wide, on the edge 
of a high fence. I planted three cucumber 
hills in the border, and laid gome brush (such 
as is used for pea vines) between them and 
the fence. As soon as they crept up to the 
brush, I pinched ofi’ the ends of the vine 
which thickened rapidly around the roots, 
and in every direction, throwing out the 
most vigorous foliage and profusion of 
flowers. 
I did not allow the cucumbers to grow, 
but watched them, and such as I wished to 
reserve for the table I picked as soon as they 
became of proper size ; and all the rest were 
gathered every day for pickles; every day 
pinching olT the bud at the end of each 
shoot. In this way (ho bill continued fresh 
and productive until they were touched by 
frost. Some judgment can be formed of the 
value of this practice when I add that more 
than a barrel of pickles were made from 
three hills, besides allowing a supply for the 
table. 
Whenever a leaf began to look rusty or 
yellowish, it was removed, and the cucum¬ 
bers and leaves were cut off with, large scis¬ 
sors, so as not to disturb or wound the vine. 
There is an advantage in having them run 
upon brush instead of trailing over the 
ground ; because they are much injured by 
being trodden on, and by being kept low on 
the bushes they can be easily and thoroughly 
examined over every day, which is essential, 
because if cucumbers are overlooked, and 
grow very large, it stops the yield of that 
Transplanting will be more successful if tho 
hole into which the plant is to be set is first tilled 
with water, to thoroughly wet the soil. 
Notes of Discussions, Extracts 
ters, «&c. 
\Voo<l-l*eckers and Apple Tree Borers.— A. IT. 
Cassinok, Pcrryville, Mo., examined his apple 
orchard in February last for borers, and found 
no less than twenty-seven trees which had been, 
cleared id borers by the wood-peekers. Di some 
cases the birds had g-One below the surface of 
the ground for them. Accordingly tie would 
not kill these birds. Dr. Tiumblk said that the 
first year in the life of borers they are near the 
sin-face of the tree, and accessible to the wood- 
city, and buy them of second-hand book dealers. 
The Commander of the Club defended Ids rep¬ 
resentative in Congress from any such asper 
sions. He did not. believe Hon. Fernando 
Wood moan enough to sell public documents to 
old paper or old book dealers. Mr. Filler said 
Mr. Wood was rich enough not to need to do It. 
Mr. Prims protested against the wholesale de¬ 
nunciation of Congressmen. Ho had spent eight 
months in Washington, and knew how these 
documents were distributed. The M. (Vs are as 
conscientious as other men. In Illustration of 
tho regard public men luivo for their constit¬ 
uents, Mr. Cturns held up a public docuuuail 
on wools Just received from Senator Fenton. 
Mr. Fuller retorted that, all (fist iinjniKhnl men 
were looked after; tho gentleman is a Vice 
President of the New York State Agricultural 
Society, and iti tho “ ring" 0 lie Custom House) 
beside, which may help lum to regard Congress¬ 
men more charitably than common farmers, 
who receive no such distinguished attentions 
from politicians. 
# 
TIIE CATTLE 
are also small, with long, slender limbs, anti when 
used for draught are remarkably fast walkers. 
They are not of a kind adapted for beef, and the 
disadvantages under which they are grazed pre¬ 
vent their fattening, so that good beef Is almost 
unknown. 
TUB houses 
resemble tho mustangs of Texas. Though small, 
their power of endurance is very great, and 
I heir speed remarkable. They are reserved al¬ 
most entirely for riding. 
THE MUT.ES 
are also very small, many of them scarcely larger 
than donkeys, (trout numbers of them are em¬ 
ployed for freighting purposes, Hie only com¬ 
merce with the world, 800 miles distant, being by 
trains of wagons drawn by mules or oxen. A 
mule team consists of either eight or ten ani¬ 
mals, and the average load of mm of the immense 
wagons, or prairie schooners, as they tiresome- 
times called, Is 5,000 pounds. As already re¬ 
marked, the soil can be cultivated only along tho 
borders of streams, where the topography of tho 
country favors 
irrigation. 
The system of entails by which this Is effected, 
is loo extensive to lie carried out by individual 
enterprise, and is therefore the work of tho com¬ 
munity. A point on tho stream Is chosen above 
the tract t.i ho irrigated, and where tho banks 
are somewhat elevated. A slight dam built at 
besides operating more rapidly, would stir tho 
surface better and have ft tendency to keep down 
tho weeds. 
TUB PRINCIPAL CHOPS RAISED 
are Indian corn, wheat, and beans. The yield is 
lair, but not In proportion to the rlchnesaof tho 
soil, which does tml become exhausted, owing 
to the constant addition of organic matter 
brought by tile water list'd in irrignlion. For 
some unexplained reason It Is impossible to raise 
potatoes, the vines growing very luxuriantly, 
hut producing no tubers. 1 have paid twenty 
cents a pound In silver for a few potatoes, 
brought from Chihuahua and sold us a rare 
luxury. 
(,H A PICS ATTAIN TO QUEAT PKRFBOTION, 
118 might bo expected in such a .climate, 1 think 
I have never tasted any elsewhere which pos¬ 
sessed mu much body, Considerable wine is made 
which has the richness aud body of port with 
the delicateiluvor of the sweet Hungarian wines. 
The nut mi fact ure of this wine shows a consid¬ 
erable fertility of resource on the part of tlm 
natives. The grapes are bruised in a wooden 
trough by means of a heavy block of wood at¬ 
tached to the end of n spring-pole, and made to 
play up and down by a man who sits astride the 
pole and tivVers. Barrels bring very scarce and 
expensive,tin ingenious substitute is employed. 
Four stout sticks about three foot tn length are 
lashed together with raw bide, so as to form a 
square frame. This Is supported at each corner 
by a crotch driven into the ground. The next. 
this point t hrows the water into a canal leading ,.,|.c the fresh lode of a beef, and, hav- 
to tho locality to bo overflowed. This canal is lug trimmed around the edges, to sew tho latter 
V - - v t , ,A 
\T / k 
7\ m- 
mm 
rat 
■ ,'<d 
kept as nearly On a level with the stream above (i ni ,| v p, the frame with tlmngs of raw lude. As 
tho dam ns ts consistent with a very gentle cur- (1 „. imp. H | V( .tches it forms a large pouch, which 
rent, Hondo- soon alter leaving the dam, the bangs suspended from the frame. The cover is 
lied of the canal Is higher titan tho ground Oil composed ut niteRs placed closely together, upon 
, either side. Tho con raft of the canal la, In the which straw ts laid, and tho whole covered with 
main, parallel to the stream, but. us far from it three or teur in; In s of earth. All this trouble 
as the formation of tho country wtH permit, in- (s taken to save a few feet of boards, sawed 
asmueh as It is only the land Included botween lumber lieing exceedingly scarce and difficult to 
the two which can be irrigated. Branch canals 0 ht,nin. These pouches may be used vear after 
distribute the water as required. Although but- an( j , lo „ (l) j„,,„„t any unpleasant 
tom land ts, as it rule, very level, yet there are Haver to rim wine. Rude as are the plows al- 
slight irregularities of 0)0 surface which render ivudv described, they are not more so man 
the problem of overflowing all portions evenly ‘ ' _ 
a somewhat difficult one. Hence, the skill tie- other Autm ni.Tt kae impt.kmr.nt8. 
mnndod for the successful practice of Irrigation The carts, for instmieo, are the most perfectly 
Is considerable. The higher portions of ground absurd st ructures which human ingenuity could 
are Included in ridges, eight or ten inches in devise. To make a cart-wheel, a tree two feet 
height, niadewilh I he hoe. The water Is lot into in diameter is mil down, ami a length cut from 
the basin thus formed,and when the ground has the trunk equal to the diameter ol the proposed 
become .saturated to the desired ex tout, the wheel. Thu- is then hewn uwn.v with an ax, on 
ridges out through, mid the water allowed to both sides, until a plank three inches In tliick- 
tlow into another ligsin, similarly prepared, on a ness remains. A port i<m, however, of the middle 
. -A 
m 
SM 
'§1 
■ 
'US , 
THE W BLANDLY CARAOOQANA. 
pecker; but the second and third year they aro 
not so easily got at—they go deeper into tho l reo. 
He has not observed, however, that the wood¬ 
pecker searches so near the surface of the 
ground, much less beneath the surface for them. 
It would bo interesting if Mr. CAKSixori would 
tell us what wood pecker It is who thus searches 
for borers. The Downy wood-pecker Is the one 
that destroys tho apple mot h, the most destruc¬ 
tive Of all insects in orchards. This bird is often 
called the sap-sucker, but is not a sap-sucker at 
all. Mr. CURTIS said eight years ago be had a 
pear tree, the bark of which was fairly honey¬ 
combed by the wood-pecker, from root To 
branches. IIis neighbors told him It was the 
work of a sap-sucker, and t hat he had bet lev kill 
the bird or ho would lose the tree. Concluded 
the bird know what ho was about, and decided 
to let him work and waitjlt the result, The tree 
died. After its death ho examined it carefully, 
and he found it. full of borers, and they were 
what the “ sup-sucker" was after. Many people 
supposed the “sap-sucker ” killed the tree, hut 
he was satisfied it would have died sooner if no 
“sap-sucker" had been about. Dr. Trimble 
says tho sap-sucker is distinct from the wood¬ 
pecker. 11 works upon trees usually in October. 
Has never fully satisfied himself whether they 
suck sap or what they aro after. Mr. Cor ,ton 
says he has seen what aro called “ sap-suckers " 
at work on the dead pines in tho pitch-pine 
woods of I lie Mouth. They could not t here be 
sucking sap, for there was none in the dead trees 
for thorn to suck. Dr. Trimble said that he 
know vast quantities of Southern pines wore de¬ 
stroyed by the borers some years since, and the 
people attributed their death to the wood-peck¬ 
ers, and commenced a wholesale destruction 
thereof. There could bo no greater delusion 
than that tho wood-pecker* had anything to do 
with the death of any tree. 
Deport* of the Deportment of Agriculture.— 
\V. J. Fisk, Castile, N. Y., writes that, ho Is a 
common farmer, has never been in the Legisla¬ 
ture nor any other disreputable business, but 
cannot, obtain copies of tho Reports of tho De¬ 
partment of Agriculture. Asks how to do il. 
Ho adds: “Obviously, they are printed for tho 
benefit of the rural community, yet I know of 
but ono in my vicinity who receives them, and 
tie is an ex-Aasomblyumn. Largo numbers of 
reports aro distributed every year from our 
post-office, among the lawyers, doctors, and 
merchants of tho town, of whom tho farmer 
must buy or go without. The Commissioner of 
Agriculture Is allowed but a limited number to 
supply societies, &e., and I have written to our 
, representative until I urn ashamed. Please say 
which wire 1 had better pull ¥” The Commander 
ol' the t tub 6ays there are always two candidates 
for Congress in his district; he had better “see” 
one or both of them prior to election and secure 
pledges. Mr. G it EGO it v suggested that he corres¬ 
pond with the Ann street dealers In old paper; 
ho can find plenty of them there. Some one 
suggested that, he write direct to tlm meiuhor of 
Congress front his district, and that they oould 
probably be obtained from the Commissioner of 
Agricul ture. Mr. t Trims said the Commissioner 
of Agriculture only had a limited number of 
copies apportioned to him, and the demand 
therefore far exceeded tho supply. A Certain 
number was also apportioned to each Senator 
and Representative, who usually sends them to 
his most intluential political friends,nucompen¬ 
sation for services rendered him in securing his 
election. Mr. Fuller said that the facts aro, 
Congressmen gobble up these reports and sell 
them at low rates to dealers in old hooks. Thou¬ 
sands of books aro paid for by Congress which 
are never printed; and thousands are printed 
which never benefit the public a dollar, because 
they aro bought of Congressmen in advance of 
publication, and sold at a profit. Before you 
can get any of them of a member of Congress, 
you can go into Auu and Nassau streets, in this 
The Agriculture of New Mexico.— Dr. A. H. | 
Smith read the following paper on tho agricul¬ 
ture of New Mexico: 
New Mexico lies between thirty-two and 
thirty-seven degrees north latitude and between 
twenty-six atul thirty-two degrees west longi¬ 
tude, li.t northern border being on a line with 
Norfolk, Va„ and its southern boundary on a 
line with Savannah. It. is hounded north by 
Colorado, east by Texas, south by Texas ami 
Mexit < i. and a i t V sly.omi- Timngli the ter¬ 
ritory, H8 represented upon the amp. comprises 
u large area, the really habitable portion is con¬ 
fined to a narrow strip miming from north to 
south on either side of the Rio Grande. The 
reason of this i-t to be It mud lit the fuel that 
sufficient rain docs not fall to sustain my tml a 
peculiar vegetation, and that, therefore, agri¬ 
culture ir possible only where the vicinity of 
streams affords facilities for irrigation. Bor¬ 
dered both on the cast aud wept by vast plains, 
nearly a thousand miles in width, where there 
are no considerable si reams to impart moisture 
to the atmosphere. Now Mexico posses < 0 * 
A CLIMATE OF PECULIAR DRYNESS. 
The annual fall of rain does not average ten 
inches in tho southern part "i tho Territory* or 
more than eighteen incites in the more elevated 
regions of Manta Fo, while in the vicinity of 
New York the annual full Is about forty-livo 
inches. In consequence of this ox i rente dryness 
there is an entire absence of dew, except, occa¬ 
sionally on tlm margin of streams. Spring* oc¬ 
cur but seldom, ami are greatly prized. Route* 
of travel are located in reference to them, the 
distance to he traversed being often very much 
increased by the deviation from a direct course 
required to obtain water. It would be supposed 
that such extreme dryness of the atmosphere 
would bo fatal to a'l vegetation, except in tho 
immediate vicinity of water. But such is not 
the case. On the elevated plateaus, where no 
rain falls for months, and the soil seems utterly 
destitute of moisture, an immense variety ol 
different, families of cactus grow with the ut¬ 
most luxuriance, and 
A SPECIES OF FINE, HARD, WiltV GRASS 
attains the height of twelve or fifteen inches, mid 
affords most excellent pasture. In the spring 
and early summer, this grass, Qr f/ramimx, a* itis 
termed, is green and slightly moist, hut by mid¬ 
summer It Inis become brown, dry, and brilile. 
In ibis slat; it has Lost noon of it- nutritive 
proportion, it being almost equal to grain In its 
fattening quality. Its hard and wiry character 
destroys the edge of a scy the, and tt is therefore 
usually out with a hoe. If water can bo obtained 
tor stock, they will thrive wonderfully on this 
gross t he year round, the climate being so mild 
that they cart remain out all winter. Ln some 
localities there aro largo tracts covered with a 
species of 
I)W ARF THOR N-1.< HE ST, 
called mcsiptil . The fruit of this shrub, which 
is oontuinen in lung, slender pods, is very nutri¬ 
tions, abounding in gluten, while the pod Lliem- 
8oIves contain a large amount of saccharine nail - 
ter. During the autumn this la a very valuable 
resource, and all kinds of stock revel in the 
transient luxury. The beaus are someUuiis 
collected and preserved for n o in the winter, 
but lhi-v aro apt to become tilled with small, 
brown worms, which, when swallowed by slock, 
pierce through the intest ines and produce fatal 
inflammation. Another species of tho locust 
family growing to the dimensions of U small Iron 
produces what, is known as tho 
SCREW-BEAN OR TOItNtbbO. 
lower level. In this way the prunes* is continued 
until the entire surl'aeo has become sufficiently 
moist. (Thu ally, from throe to four Inches depth 
of water arc employed at each Irrigation, and 
i ho process is repeated three times between sow¬ 
ing and harvest. 
TtTE USE OF THE WATER 
by the different parties entitled to it is regulated 
by stringent territorial laws, and each township 
has an officer called tlm “alcalde of the water, 
whoso duty It is to see that the canals ate kept 
in proper Order, aud to settle ail questions 
growing out of the subject of Irrigation. His 
powers within the limits of his sphere are equal 
to those of n Justice of the peace. He may 
summon a Jury and compel tlm attendance of 
witnesses, ns Is usual in a Justice's court, lie is 
required to keep a hat of the persons within hi* 
jurisdiction who are entitled to water, and to 
decide upon tint Order in which t hey ant to be 
supplied. Tapping tho canal out pr turn is se¬ 
verely punished,aud ts considered tnurodisrepu- 
lublethun any other theft. Like all people who 
are Ignorant, and lit the same time indolent, the 
Now Mexicans are inclined to rely very much 
upon superhuman aid, and to attribute want of 
success to some unfavorable supernatural agen¬ 
cy. Nearly every department Of Industry is 
supposed to bn under tnu control of 
SOME PATRON SAINT, 
who in his lifetime excelled in that particular 
line. The legend of San Yeedm, tho patron of 
agriculture, lum become corrupted by transmis¬ 
sion through many generations, until it was told 
I,, rue a* follows; ■ Tlmro was oucc a lazy fellow 
named Yeodro, son of it farmer, hut so worth¬ 
less that Itis father could make nothing of him. 
Being in the field one day he hoard a voice from 
some invisible being, warning him of the evil 
hi* idleness would bring upon him, and exhort¬ 
ing him to rouse up and set himself to work 
earnestly In the cultivation of the soil, giving 
him assmanceat the same linn-of qtiusual suc¬ 
cess. The warning was heeded, and Yeodro be¬ 
came as diligent its he Imd before boon slothful. 
In process of time he became noted far and 
wide for his successful husbandry, and people 
came from great distances tci profit by his in¬ 
struction. Ib> suggested many improvement* 
in agriculture, which were commonly adopted 
and proved a great advantage to the communi¬ 
ty. His skill, especially iti irrigation, has never 
been surpassed, and Itis hinted Ihul, by his cun¬ 
ningly arranged canals and ridges, he could coax 
the water to mount alttfla higher man Its source. 
At. his death In- was canonized,and he continues 
to e ver! a control ling intlncucc over the for¬ 
tune* of the agriculturist. 
HAN YCEDRO’S DAY 
occurs early in May,and ia celebrated with much 
ceremony. A procession is formed, headed by a 
wooden figure of the Saint, borne aloft upon a 
am t of platform. Drums, fifes, horns, pistols, 
guns, hells, everything to make a noise, keep up 
a fright till din. Tlm procession marches to the 
head of the canal, when- religious services are 
held, ill the course of which the wooden saint is 
dipped several times below tho surface ol the 
water. After some time spent. In these exercises, 
i he procession repairs to tlm church, where mass 
is said, after which the remainder Of the day is 
passed in festivities and rejoicings. On ncea- 
Vmns of public alarm on account of unusual 
lowness of the streams, the priests appoint 
AN ESPECIAL DAY OF SUPPLICATION TO TIIE 
SAINT, 
when tho regular annual ceremonies are re¬ 
peated, On ono occasion the stated exercises at 
Hie Head of i he canal were considerably abridged 
(irmly to tho frame with t lmtigs of raw lude. As 
the hide stretches it forms a large pouch, which 
bangs suspended from the frame. The cover Is 
composed ot sticks placed closely together, upon 
which straw i* laid, and the whole covered with 
three or four in; he* of earth. All this trouble 
Is taken to save a few reel. Of hoards, sawed 
lumber being exceedingly scarce and difficult to 
obtain. These pouches may bo used year after 
year, and do not seem to impart, any unpleasant 
Havov to tho wine. Rude as are t lm mows al¬ 
ready described, t hey are not more so I nun 
OTHER AOKlOUETCRAr. IMPLEMENTS. 
The carts, for instance, arc tho most perfectly 
absurd structures which human ingenuity could 
devise. To make a earl-wheel, a tree two feet 
In diameter is cut down, ami a length cut from 
the trunk equal to the diameter ol tho proposed 
wheel. This is then hewn away with an ax, on 
both stdPSv until a plank three inches in thick¬ 
ness remains- A port toil, however, of the middle 
of |lie plank Is left with a thickness of a toot or 
more to constitute tho huh- A hole about three 
Inches in diameter is made- through this to re¬ 
ceive' the arm or the axle. To complete tlm 
circle two pieces of crooked limb are selected 
which lire dresMid Rvi iv-, lo lorm nearly as may be 
the segment of a circle. These are I asternal at 
each end to the edge* of the plank by menus of 
wooden pins, and the wheel is done. The axle 
I* made entirely ol’ wood, and is lushed to tho 
bottom of the body in such a way as to be easily 
removed and replaced by a new one. When 
starling on a long Journey il i* usual Lo take 
three or four spare, uxloa to replace those worn 
cul. The body of tlm cart, is merely a sort, of 
crate made of twig* bound together with raw 
hide. The whole affair does mu contain a pnrti- 
clouf iron. A carl of tills kind Is usually pre¬ 
ceded by *ix oxen, five to draw the cart, and ono 
LO draw the load. Nothing being used to lubri¬ 
cate the wheels, (heir groaning may be hoard to 
it great distance—uttering the pathetic appeal, 
grease, grease, grease, grease. 
OXEN ARE YOKED 
by means of a stick placed behind the horns, 
and secured to thorn by long strips of raw hide 
applied in numerous turns of tho figure of 8. 
This is a cruel arrangement in any ease, Tor it a 
weight is to lie borne, the leverage at the end of 
tho neck renders it very oppressive, while in 
hauling tins line of draught is so much above 
I lull, of the spine Hint the neck is bent upward, 
and tin' none elevated in a manner that must bo 
exceedingly tiresome and pftiulul. I have had 
occasion, in this paper, to speak frequently of 
THE USE OF Tt AW HIDE. 
The value of this artlclo to tint Mexican ran- 
chcru is beyond Computation. It takes the place 
of chains, ropes, nulls, screws, tied holts. If this 
resource were suddenly cut off agriculture could 
scarcely proceed. By its aid tho farmer is en¬ 
abled (it dispense almost ent irely with the assist¬ 
ance of tlm carpenter, the saddler and the black¬ 
smith. No mortice hold* its tenon more firmly 
t han the lashings of raw hide, applied while wet, 
and acquiring, when dried, the rigidity of Iron, 
bind together the Joint which they etiibmoo. 
No system of chains, rings, and clevises could 
connect the yoke more etfieieiitiy with the sim¬ 
ple plow than does the raw hide lliong. Raw 
hide is everywhere, mid furnished tho means lor 
all conned ions, matrimonial excepted. It forms 
part of the cradle of Infancy, and I lie bicrof age. 
As may be Inferred from what has been already 
said, 
AGTiiom/rmtE in new Mexico 
is carried on under great disadvantages. The 
labor expended upon irrigations is immense, and 
though there are .some advantages in being able 
to control (he supply of moisture, they do not 
compensate for the out lay which the system ne¬ 
cessitates. it is only because of the isolation 
which prevents the products of more favored 
localities trom coming into competition with 
those of tho country that agriculture is at all re- 
muuOrut Ivo. Except In the case of wool there 
is, of course, nonu but a home market; but ns 
there are alwuvs a considerable inunberof troops 
in I lie Territory, amt also parties engaged in min¬ 
ing, t he demand Is usually sufficient to insure a 
fair price lor produce. 
LABOR IS CHEAP 
compared with the cost of living. A dollar and 
a-lialf a day Is considered large wages, when 
llonr Is twenty cents a pound, aud other neces¬ 
saries in proportion. From llil* it may ho in¬ 
ferred that the condition of Hie laboring class Is 
noli favorable. Formerly, the relation of tlm 
laborer to his employer whs generally that of 
p< W(i(/r T This condition usually arose out of 
some t ritlinu debt which the debtor contracted 
ceremony continued an entire afternoon, and 
before night the water began to rise In the river, 
and the next, morning, to the Joy of the wholo 
community, the canal was lull tu overflowing. 
THE PLOWS USED IN NEW MEXICO 
resemble those employed In Egypt. 3,000 years 
ago. They arc made entirely or wood, and are 
of the simplest possible construction. A piece 
about two feet long mid four Inches square is 
cut from the body of tt tree in sueli a way as to 
include the origin et a limb of con von lent size 
to serve as a handle. This block, sharpened at 
the extremity, is at once share, mold-board, and 
Imidslde. The m inched limb, cut off at a proper 
scar.length, is the solitary lamrllo. It only remains 
Tho pods Which occur m duster* aro spiral n t(1 tYauio the end of a long pole into the angle 
form and contain minute seeds. I hey are fully m .,m. by the handle and the nondescript hast; of 
as nutritious as the mesqult bean, and can be 
kept without becoming wormy. Were it not l’or 
ibe continual depredations of tile Indian*, New 
Mexico could 
SUPPLY THE WHOLE UNITED STATES WITH WOOL, 
sheep doing remarkably well and appear lobe 
much more independent of a frequent supply ol' 
water than cattle. Hut away front tho imme¬ 
diate vicinity of the towns stock i* not safe for 
a day, anti Hie herder's life is In constant jeop¬ 
ardy. Still, notwithstanding tilts aud the fact 
tlmi. until within the last two or three year* all 
Hie wool scut lo Hus “ Stales," bris to be carried 
in wagons a distance of from 800 Ixi 1,1(10 mile*, 
the clip of New Mexico Ini* very sensibly affected 
the market in the Last. The prevailing breed 
of sheep are rather small, and the wool very 
coarse, ft is customary to sell the wool by the 
fleece, tile purchaser to do the shearing. The 
iimuI price Is about six <* m su fierce. Ibrtoes 
not pay at this rate to spend time in careful 
shearing, and therefore the legs and neck are 
generally left xvitli the wool on, giving the ani 
mat a very dilapidated aud demoralized appear¬ 
ance. 
the implement, aud the plow is done. The pole, 
which serves as a beam, is long enough to reach 
to tho yok". where it la secured by a thong of 
rawhide. With this implement it is of course 
Impossible I n do anything more than scratch Hie 
‘en lace ot the ground. But tin? soil Vicing allu¬ 
vial and soft, the roots of the grain strike down 
Into it readily, the object»if plowing being mere¬ 
ly to cover the seed and not lo loosen the earth 
lit-rn-aHi. Tin- seed is dropped from the hand 
Into each furrow, and is -opposed to be covered 
by Hie plow In ihenoxt round. But in reality 
tlm covering of tl/csced is chiefly effected by the 
irrigation which immediately follows. It is 
.Stated that 
AMERICAN PLOWS 
have been tested In Now Mexico, but with dis- 
h*i rou* results, os they broke up a sort of hard- 
pan which lies a short distance below tho sur- 
Piee, and left tlm ground in Hm condition of a 
sieve, through which tho water soaked away at 
onco and left the surface without moisture. 
Granting this objection to hold good, the mis¬ 
erable plows of the country might be replaced 
with advantage by tho cultivator harrow, which. 
came that of master and slave until the debt, was 
extinguished. But practically ignorance and 
hoedlessnejss on Mm one baud, a»d cruft, greed, 
mid superior Intelligence mi the other, resulted 
In condilions which rendered the payment of 
the debt impossible and a life-long servitude 
was the result, 
PEONS, 
as these bondmen were called, could be trans¬ 
ferred from ono master to another by the per¬ 
son desiring Hie services paying to I lie master 
the amount Of flu* indebtedness, Thiseould not 
be »hme, however, without the consent of tho 
peon, whose nominal purl in the transaction was 
simply to borrow from one party tho means of 
discharging his obligation to ilie other. Tho 
laws of the country were altogether in the Inter¬ 
est of the master, and the peon was treated with 
great rigor. While u murderer could stalk 
abroad in open daylight unchallenged, the 
wretch who attempted to tleo from the tyranny 
of his master was bunted like a wild beast. This 
institution was a reitc of tiin former rule of 
Mexico* and disgraced the statute books of the 
Territory until the occurrence of emancipation. 
But the clarion tones of tho 
PROCLAMATION OF FREEDOM 
echoing over the Intervening wastes penetrated 
even to this secluded spot. There v a* a despe¬ 
rate struggle to liiuiufiiiii the system on the pre¬ 
tence that it did not imply ,’/ii.wi• i -Mru*\n'ihtde ; 
but the sophistry of word* could not withstand 
the logic of fact#-and peonage sank into the 
grave of slavery. But ignorance atul improvi¬ 
dence go kmii<i in nand. mid the laborer will 
never attain ill X> w Mexlcotho poe-iuotl of com¬ 
fort and respectability he hold*elfcwhore until 
the afflux ol population from withoei eounter- 
uet* tho eleaionis of priestcraft and supoisii- 
tIon, and opens the way- for tile school liouseand 
the schoolmaster. Then, when agriculture shall 
lie directed by intelligence, and the science of 
to-day take the place of bygone ages, Now Mex¬ 
ico, with her smiling skies and soft delicious 
climate, will become the paradise ol this conti¬ 
nent. 
