India Rubber. While there has been much unsatisfactory experimentation with the rub ber tree, the failures have generally been chargeable to lack of knowledge or experience or to the introduction of illegitimate specula tion at the expense of practical results. There now exist in southern Mexico a number of large and very successful rubber plantations, which have already proved that cultivated rubber can be made a paying proposition. These are chiefly in Vera Cruz, Chiapas, Campeche and Oaxaca.
Agave or Maguey. This plant, from which is extracted the drink known as pulque, which the natives use in immense quantities, is perhaps the most important feature of the agri cultural interest of the central plateau. Al though pulque contains only about 7 per cent of alcohol, it is intoxicating when drunk in large quantities. It possesses important medici nal qualities, is a tonic and very nutritive. From 350 to 700 agaves or magueys to the acre are planted. They mature in eight years and give sap for a period of about five months, produc ing from 125 to 160 gallons of pulque each. The plants cost about $2 each by the time they have matured, and give a return of from $7 to $10 each. The pulque is secured by making a cav ity in the centre of the plant, from the top, large enough to hold a few quarts, which are drawn out by rude syphons once a day. The leaves of the plants sometimes grow to be 12 feet long and weigh from 25 pounds to 100 pounds each.
Banana. This fruit is successfully grown everywhere in Mexico between sea-level and an altitude of 5.000 feet. It is easily cultivated and very profitable. Frequently a return of $1,000 is realized from an outlay of $500 in a single season. A plantation of 1,000 Plants, costing $500, will, under favorable conditions, earn this amount, even though the methods used be faulty, the care exercised insufficient and the variety poor. A favorable feature of banana growing is the fact that the ground occupied by the plants may also he utilized at the same time for the cultivation of coffee or other prof itable products. Few other tropical fruits de velop and become profitable as quickly as does the banana. Especially agreeable are some of the smaller varieties, although they may not be as much sought after as the larger and more pretentious ones. Their flavor possesses quali
ties not found in any other known variety.
Orange. The oranges of Mexico are rap idly and surely winning favor in the markets of the North. Their true worth has only recently come to be understood and appreciated by con sumers. Although the orange finds favorable conditions in all, the tropical and sub-tropical states, the best results thus far have been at tained on the shores of Lake Chapala, in the state of Jalisco and in Vera Cruz, Michoacan, Sonora, Morelos, Durango, Nuevo Leon, Oax aca and Puebla. The leading producers in 1914 were Jalisco, Yucatan, Michoacan, Sonora, Mo relos, Durango, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, Puebla, Sinaloa, Hidalgo and Vera Cruz. Although the oranges of La Barea, in the state of Jalisco, are considered the best in the republic, they have al ready found competitors in the products of Mi choacan, Vera Cruz, Morelos and other locali ties equally favored by nature. The best results in orange growing are secured at elevations be low 2,500 feet. The trees begin bearing when three or four years old and increase until the 12th or 15th year. Frost never occurs in any of the orange-growing regions of Mexico.
Lemon. It is doubtful if any product in digenous to the soil of Mexico has been as sadly neglected as the lemon. So largely has it been relegated toward the lower end of the list of tropical fruits, in favor of the lime, that it can with difficulty be obtained in the markets, and when found is generally unsatisfactory in quality. And this, notwithstanding the existing very favorable conditions of soil and climate and the increasing demand in the world's mar kets. A very considerable part of the lemon crop of Mexico consists of wild fruit which, in many sections and especially on the Pacific Coast, is large and of excellent quality. It grows in the forests and jungles of the semi tropical lands, at about the same altitude as the orange.
Lime. This successful rival of the lemon, in Mexico, is grown chiefly in the states of Guanajuato, Puebla, Michoacan, Mexico, Ja lisco, Oaxaca, Guerrero and San Luis Potosi. The lime of Mexico is of very excellent quality, but like the lemon and the orange, can be greatly improved by the adoption of proper methods of cultivation and the exercise of rea sonable care.