Page:Vol 2 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/153

Rh yielded well, forming the first wheat crop of New Spain.

Cortés had early endeavored to interest the sovereign in the agricultural interests of the country, and even requested that all vessels for New Spain should be made to bring a number of seeds and plants wherewith to enrich the native varieties. This was, to a certain extent, complied with, though the selfish enmity or short-sightedness of officials at first cast many obstacles in the way. The rulers at Santo Domingo were persuaded at one time that unless restrictions were placed on the export of live-stock and products to New Spain the Islands would suffer irreparably, both from the drain and from the gradual transfer of productions to that country, which must thereby also absorb the trade. A prohibition was accordingly issued against exporting anything from the Islands that might be used for reproduction. The colonists poured in their complaints to Spain, and soon came a decree practically annulling the prohibition. The fears of the Antilles were not unfounded, for their position as an entrepôt was soon lost, and this proved another reason for the increased emigration of its people. Meanwhile New Spain profited by this loss, and Cortés was among the foremost to enrich his