Mexico

The history of the oil production in Mexico has been most re markable, not only with regard to the annual output, but also on account of the enormous and prolonged yield of certain wells. Annual Mexican oil production is as follows:— The total production from 1901 to 1927 was bbl. valued at $2,469,924,580.

The striking decrease in production, noticeable in recent years —a phenomenon which brought Mexico down from second to fourth place among oil-producing countries (thus following the United States, Russia and Venezuela)—is by some associated with disturbed political conditions which have discouraged ex ploitation by foreign companies, while others contend, on the its output having passed from 5,703 tons in 1915 to 60,513 in 1921, in 1922, 164,140 in 1924 and 171,767 in 1925. Copper, mined in Michoacan, Mexico, Guerrero, Lower Cali fornia, Sonora, etc., yielded 205 tons in 1915, 70,223 in 1918, 26,978 in 1922, 49,112 in 1924 and 51,336 in 1925. Zinc mines gave 5,8o6 tons in 1915, 45,00o in 1917, 6,142 in 1922, in 1924, 45,77o in 1925 and 106,367 in 1926, the great variations in the amount of the output being due to political conditions of the country. Other mining products of importance are graphite, arsenic, mercury, antimony, tin, tungsten and molybdenum. Mex ico has very little anthracite but much low-grade coal in the northern part of the country, the supply of which is estimated at 300,000,00o tons, the annual output varying between 739,98o tons in 1921 and 1,335,780 in 1925. The value of the metals mined during the first semester of 1924 is given in the following table, in Mexican pesos: Iron is found everywhere in Mexico, the Cerro del Mercado, in Durango, being assumed to be entirely made of that metal (500,000,000 tons). The total value of the iron smelted by the Compania Fundidora de Fierro y Acero de Monterrey and others is estimated at $11,433,038 in 1925 against $8,273,236 in 1921.

More than anything else, the production of petroleum in Mexico has called the world's attention to that country. Despite the spectacular aspect of that production and although a small other hand, that the richest fields are, to all appearance, becoming exhausted. Many wells in the Tepetate pool and in the Panuco field were affected by salt water in 1919 and 1920. At all events the average production of the new wells is much smaller—a fact easily proved by comparing the average daily production of io bbl. for the wells drilled between 1923-26 to that of 4o bbl. cor responding to the wells drilled between 1920-1922. The output

of the Naranjos field in 1920, 90,000,00o barrels, is the largest in the history of the World.

Agriculture.

The proportion of Mexican land that can be cultivated under present conditions, according to modern methods, is relatively small. On the high plateau nothing can be done with out expensive irrigation ; for the best soil elements have been washed down in a few valleys where fertility is remarkable. At least one-fifth of Mexico is unfit for agriculture. At present, in deed, no more than 30,000,00o ac. are under cultivation, 20,000, 000 of which require irrigation. Outside the plateau there are only grazing lands and forested areas, all of which would require vast expenditure of capital if they were to be adapted to agricul tural purposes. Moreover, in many parts of the country, the lack of adequate transportation is a serious drawback. However, in recent years, a great effort has been made in order to improve conditions. Important irrigation works, whose total cost will be 6o,000,000 pesos have been begun in different parts of the Repub lic, and the sum of 22,000,000 pesos is being spent in building modern highways.

According to a law enacted in 1923 every Mexican citizen, over 18 years of age, is entitled to a plot of land of no more than 25 ha. of irrigable land, or a maximum of ioo ha. of dry land, or up to 500 ha. of grazing land ; but the sale of such a plot to a foreigner or to a Mexican owning as much is prohibited. A serious effort is being made to teach modern methods to the Mex ican farmer and there is no doubt that, assuming a state of do mestic peace, the output of Mexican agriculture, which is not very large now, could be considerably increased. As a proof of the in terest shown in agricultural work by the people of Mexico let the fact be mentioned that in 1925 farm implements to the value of $4,178,000 were bought in the United States, as against $843,742 in 1909. In 1925 the increase in the cultivated area was 47.66% for cotton, 876.6o% for alfalfa, 258% for rice, 70% for potatoes, 159% for bananas, 88% for wheat, 26% for Indian corn and 1848% for oranges. Indian corn is one of the most important agricultural products of Mexico, though the crop is still inade quate as some has to be imported year after year. Production in metric tons for the leading crops is given in the following table :— ample, cigars, cigarettes, sugar, beer, broadcloth, cassimeres, blankets, underwear, hosiery, percales, calicoes, matches, ex plosives, paper, furniture, metallurgical products, etc.