Page:Vol 3 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/633

Rh and Oajaca, to be neglected. In 1790, under the rule of the second Re villa Gigedo, great interest was taken in this branch of industry, and printed instructions were sent to persons engaged in silk culture, but the result was insignificant and of little practical value, as were the later efforts made by Hidalgo in the beginning of this century.

The cultivation of olives and the vine labored under severe restrictions. Admirably adapted as both soil and climate were for both purposes, the few plantations of olives were merely allowed to exist because they belonged to pious or charitable establishments, while as to the vine, the viceroys were repeatedly instructed not to permit the planting of new cuttings, nor even the replacing of vines in decay. Wine could only be made on condition of paying taxes to the crown, and it was not till 1796 that a more liberal policy in this respect was adopted.

The cultivation and manufacture of tobacco, the yetl of the Aztecs, the use of which soon became common among the Spaniards, was not seriously restricted for nearly two centuries and a half after the conquest, though as early as 1642 a suggestion had been made to include this article in the list of monopolies. In 1764, however, the crown appropriated the right to the manufacture and sale of the different preparations of tobacco. At the same time, to prevent contrabands and frauds, its cultivation was confined to the districts of Orizaba, Córdoba, Huatusco, and Zongolica, being forbidden in all other places under