Page:Mexico (1829) Volumes 1 and 2.djvu/64

 34 M KX ICO. this work. It therefore only remains for me to add here, that the districts now most abundant in maize, are the Baxio, (which comprises the central part of the Table-land ;) — the plains of Toluca, — the Southern and Eastern parts of the valley of Mexico itself, — the state of La Puebla, and the vicinity of Aguas Calientes. It may, however, be groAvn wherever there is water to be obtained, and will be so, un- doubtedly, as the demand increases. In some parts of the country, a variety of fermented liquors, known by the general denomination of Chicha de maiz, are prepared from maize by the Indians ; they are all more or less intoxicating, as is the Pulque de maiz, or Tlaolli, which is composed of the sugary juice or syrup, extracted by pressure from the stalk. Before the conquest, this syrup was condensed by the natives, and used as sugar. CEREALIA. Under this head I include Wheat and Barley, Oats being but little known : for cattle, barley is in general use, either mixed with maize, or alone. Wheat succeeds well throughout the Table-land of Mex- ico. The minimum of height, at which the proper tempera- ture may be found for bringing it to perfection, has not been ascertained ; but both in the Tierra caliente, and on the East- ern and Western slope of the Cordillera, experience has shown that, from, perhaps, too great a luxuriancy of vegetation, the ear will not form. About Jalapa, (67^ toises above the level of the sea,) it is merely sown to be used as green forage for cattle. At Perote (530 toises higher) it seems to find its proper level, and con- tinues from thence without interruption towards the North, where a less degree of elevation is required, in every suc- ceeding parallel, to produce it, until, in California, it may be found in the lowest valleys. On the Table-land, want of water is the great difficulty with which the farmer has to