Page:Appleton's Guide to Mexico.djvu/123

Rh dammed up for the storage of an abundant supply of water for seasons of drought.

The soil of Mexico might be caused to yield a hundred-fold more grain than is now produced, and the Republic eventually enabled to compete with the States of California and Oregon in exporting the cereals to Europe. Grain has recently (1883) been sent from California to New Orleans, La., via the Southern Pacific Railroad. The cereals of Northern Mexico might be transported to the sea-board by the same route. This subject is worthy of the attention of foreign capitalists.

As regards the amount of cereals cultivated within a given area in Mexico, it may be remarked that the proportion of grain to seed varies from forty to one to three hundred to one. An average yield would be about one hundred and fifty to one. In very fertile land one fanega (about three bushels) of seed will produce four hundred fanegas of maize. Humboldt has remarked that the finest soil on the plateau is to be found in the rich plains lying between the cities of San Juan del Rio and Leon.

It is not usual in Mexico to estimate a crop of grain by the number of bushels to the acre. In response to inquiries made in various States, the author was told that the yield of maize varied from twenty to forty bushels to an acre. The highest production is seventy bushels. No figures as to the proportionate amount of wheat and barley yielded could be obtained. Next to the cereals, the great staple