in which I found that the food of plants derived from the atmosphere is, perhaps, greater than that derived from the soil, and that the fall of rain is necessary to bring down those chemical ingredients that enter so largely into the composition of vegetation, both by the root and the foliage. The last four years, I am informed by the citizens, have been excessively dry during the farming season. The close of the present season, about the time corn was filling, was more favorable; we had an abundance of rain; corn-crops were fine. I must further premise that my experience in this country is quite limited, having spent but one entire year here, and that I labor under many inconveniences, such as the want of implements of husbandry, and a variety of seeds of approved classes. The corn of this country seems to be of a primitive character, and the ploughs equally so. My own actual operations have been confined to a garden and vineyard. I find that all vegetables adapted to the climate grow well; and have succeeded in saving a tolerable variety of seeds for the next year, which (being fresh) will be more likely to germinate than those procured from seed-stores in the States, as they generally send us those the sprouting of which has been for some years barred by the statute of limitations; hence I promise you for the next year a more satisfactory account. Again, lands here are not measured with even an attempt at accuracy. They sometinies buy and sell merely the privilege of the water for a certain number of hours in the day, or days in the week, as the case may be, without much regard to the quality of the land. When they measure at all, it is done merely by a certain number of varas fronting the acequia (or ditch) for watering, and may run back ad infinitum; hence I can give no data better than guesswork, for the present, as to the yield per acre. Agriculture here is confined to wheat, corn, beans, some inferior classes of peas, pepper, onions, and grapes. There is nothing raised for export.

I will now cease rambling over this subject, and answer such questions contained in the Circular as may have any application to this country, further apprizing you that my farm lands, this year, have been rented and cultivated after the manner of the country.

Wheat.-Guano is not used here at all. The only means used for fertilizing is that of irrigation, and answers a valuable purpose. I do not know whether or not gypsum would be beneficial to this soil. If it would, and I so find it in experiments that I intend to make, it will well nigh supersede the use of all other means of fertilization, except irrigation, as there is, quite convenient, an inexhaustible abundance, the use of which is unknown. I am, however, of opinion, that decayed vegetable mould is more wanting than anything else. Crops are always gathered very clean, and the land pastured until it is bare, and never fallowed. But the greatest difficulty we have to contend with is what is here called the salita, which seems to be a compound of earthy salts. If some practicable means of destroying or neutralizing these salts could be devised, thousands of acres of land would be reclaimed and brought into cultivation. The average product per acre I cannot give, as lands are not measured by the acre; but wheat, taking the two extremes dependent on the manner of cultivation, will produce from thirty-six to fifty-fold. The time of sowing is February and March; and the time of harvesting, the latter part of July and first of August. There is no preparation of the seed more than threshing and cleaning in the wind. Our wheat is

not mixed with cockle, cheat, rape, tares, or any other noxious weed bearing grain. They generally sow wheat here much thinner than in other parts of the State-I would say something less than a bushel to the acre. Many plough but once; others twice. The ordinary ploughing is a mere scratching of the surface with the rude plough of the country. The yield, I presume, has been stationary from the earliest settlement of the country. The rotation in crops is corn and wheat alternately. I have seen no Hessian fly or weevils in this country, and perhaps the fly might be gotten rid of in the States by the general introduction of seed from this country, as there is no fly here, and as the straw is much harder than any known in the States, being so brittle that we cannot bind our wheat with it. The average price of wheat is $4 per fanega, (14 bushel.)

Corn.-I can give nothing definite as to the product per acre, but suppose it will range between 30-and 50 bushels. The cost of production I cannot give. Labor by the day can be had at 3 or 4 bits; by the month at from $4 to $20. There is but one system known to this countrythat is by means of the rude plough alluded to, the hoe, and irrigation. With good turning-ploughs for the purpose of fallowing, common shovelploughs for stirring the earth, and cultivating harrows to place the surface in a condition for irrigation, the tillage of corn would be much improved. By fallowing after harvest, decomposed vegetable matter would be supplied, and the land would be left in a good condition for planting in the spring, without rebreaking. We would first water in the spring, then run deep furrows and plant, cultivate with shovel-ploughs until the corn is about half-leg high, harrow down the surface, and irrigate; and so on in rotation.

Oats, Barley, and Rye, are not cultivated here to any extent. Peas and beans are cultivated to a considerable extent; but of the yield per acre I am ignorant. Peas are not cultivated as a renovating crop.

Clover and Grasses.-There is no grass cultivated here. I am of opinion that Lucern and herdsgrass, or red-top, would be the best for this country for meadow.

Dairy Husbandry.-This is a term unknown among us. There is some cheese made from goat milk; butter, none. I have but few milch cows, and they yield but little milk, owing to the unnutritious character of the grass in the river bottom.

Neat Cattle. The depredations of the surrounding Indians have nearly drained the country of all kinds of cattle, and stopped the rearing of others. If we had efficient protection from Indians, the rearing or cattle and animals of any graminivorous kind would cost comparatively nothing. This is really the natural resource of the country; and the salubrity of the atmosphere, with the rich pasturage that can be had at all seasons, if it were safe, renders this country capable of producing and sustaining animal life and health to an extent perhaps unknown to any other land. And a little aid from agriculture, and from the Patent Office, in the supply of suggestions in the Annual Reports, and choice seeds, which could be sent by mail or by the quartermaster's department, would soon make New Mexico the Goshen of North America. Native cattle stand the winters here much better than those brought in; and hence we should improve the native stock by introducing breeders for the purpose of crossing, not superseding. The mode of breaking oxen

and horses, though different in detail, is the same in principle; that is, first to break the animal's spirit or neck. But with regard to oxen: The rope, or lariat, is thrown over the animal's head, horns, or neck. He is made fast, and then the yoke, with tugs of raw hide, is bound to the horns, the usual way of yoking; and then a log is connected with the yoke. The breakers, then, with goads, (poles some ten feet long,) commence torturing and goading the animals until they are run down and their spirits broken. This operation is accompanied by whoops and yells of a hideous character, resembling the wild Indian war-whoop, the barking of dogs, the shouting of women, and the bellowing of the tortured animals; every period being wound up by the household word carajo. I have never heard of a failure in breaking oxen in this country. Oxen are worth from $40 to $50 per yoke.

Horses and Mules.-The growing of these animals would be very profitable if we had protection against Indians. The expense of rearing a colt to three years old would be trifling. Brood mares and colts. should be treated to good pasture without corn, and permitted to run loose. The Navajo horses are the best in the world, which I presume is the result of their fine pasturage, healthy and temperate climate, and the general treatment they receive, similar to that of the Arabs. The best method of gentling a horse is by means of kind treatment, with a sufficiency of force at all times to let him know you are master. The method used in this country is exclusively force. By this means an animal may be subdued, but he can never be made your friend. The Spanish bit and Spanish saddle are great improvements on the American patterns; and, with them, it is next to impossible for the horse or mule to throw his rider. For the harness, gentle means should be used, and great precaution that the animal receives no fright from his trappings, for it will last him through life; and wherever the same thing happens to him again, he will again be frightened; and if he succeeded in running away the first time, he will try it the second. A team once ran away with me, and forever afterwards one of the horses, notorious for his tricks, tried to do the same thing over when he passed that place; which is proof conclusive that he had memory. I once knew a dog that was caught, when young, in a steel-trap by the toe; and forever afterwards he would become furious when you would show him the steel-trap. Hence, animals can recollect and reward kindness as well as avenge their wrongs. One thing is certain, that no animal should ever be struck for any purpose other than to put it in motion; and then never forward of the shoulder. By a judicious, kind course of treatment, all domestic animals, of ordinary disposition, will soon become pets, and really conceive an affection for their masters, and will do anything for them that they can be made to understand as being their master's desire. We should, at all events, recollect that animals were given to us through kindness, and we should cause them no more pain than is absolutely necessary. The suffering of domestic animals in the California emigration has been immense, and has created a moral accountability that the gold recovered will never answer.

Sheep and Wool.-Wool-growing is not regarded as profitable here; but a small proportion of sheep are ever shorn of their fleeces, for these reasons: the wool is very coarse; the domestic consumption does not bear the proportion of one-tenth to the amount produced; and the high

cost of transportation does not seem to justify the exportation; at least people act as though they thought so. Wool-growing, then, may be said to cost nothing here but the shearing, as the sheep are raised for food, and the wool follows as a matter of course. The price of wool here is from three to five cents per pound. Transportation, as back freight, might be had perhaps at five cents-making ten cents. I sup. pose it might be sold in the States for twenty cents-making a profit over all cost of 100 per cent. Then, if this be correct, wool-growing would be profitable here. There is no doubt but that the climate, soil, pasturage, and surface of the country are as well adapted to sheep and wool-growing as any on the globe; and by introducing choice breeds of sheep, wool might soon be made the staple of the country. I believe the calculation here is, that, counting all contingencies with good shepherds, (except Indian robberies,) the stock of sheep will double every year.

Hogs.-This animal is not raised here to any extent.

Cotton not cultivated.

Sugar-cane not cultivated.
Rice not cultivated.

Tobacco not cultivated.

Hemp not cultivated.

Root Crops.-Turnips, carrots, beets, &c., not known to the natives. But, from limited experiments, I am satisfied they will all grow wellbetter than ordinary.

Potatoes, (Irish and Sweet.)-The former cultivated to a limited extent, and in some parts, and in some seasons, produce well; but for the last two years there seem to have been failures throughout the Territory; which, I am inclined to think, is for the want of a renewal in the seed. The Irish potato grows in many places in its native wildness; but it is small. No doubt some excellent kinds could be produced by cultivation. The sweet potato is not raised here-for what cause I know not; it is said to grow finely at El Paso; but it is not cultivated there, because the people invariably rob the hills before the potatoes are matured. Whether any such reason originally discouraged the cultivation of that fine esculent in these parts, tradition does not say; but it is left as a case of "quizas, quien sabe?"

Fruit Culture.-There is, comparatively, but little fruit raised here. We have but one kind of apples-a small, white, sweet apple. There are peaches of an excellent quality; and these fruits might be raised with great success. The grape-vine is cultivated here to some extent, and a good quantity of wine made; but not enough to supply the demand, as they are constantly bringing wine from El Paso and the States. The climate, I apprehend, is unsurpassed for the cultivation of the vine. I have never heard of a failure in the crop. But the cultivation of the vine, as well as the making of wine, are in their primitive state.

Manures. This is a thing but little thought of; and perhaps irrigation has rendered it, to a great extent, useless. Manures are very hard to make, in consequence of the aridity of the atmosphere, and it cannot be done successfully without pits.

Meteorology.-1 have made no observations of this character, more than, in the spring there are terrible winds, and in the summer terrible hails, and during the winter, in the mountains, terrible snows; and, take it altogether, it is a terribly dry country.

I have, no doubt, wearied your Excellency, if you have read this all through; but that was not my object, I assure you: it was to call some attention from some quarter to the state of agriculture in this country; and for that purpose, I have endeavored to be somewhat explicit on all points having any application to this region; in order that it might be generally known how we live, and what we live upon. I am of opinion, however, if the government will either whip the Indians, or send us arms and ammunition, and a license permitting us to do it ourselves, that every other good thing of which the country is capable will follow. We are also laboring at present under that depression of morality and industry that a war always leaves in its wake; but we are gradually improving:

I am, with sentiments of high consideration, yours, &c.,

Hon. J. S. CALHOUN,

S. M. BAIRD.

Governor of New Mexico.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO,

January 30, 1852.

SIR: At my request my friend, General Manual Alvarez, prepared the accompanying letter in response to your "Agricultural Circular." General Alvarez is a native of Spain, and has been a resident of this Territory for nearly thirty years, and no one here or elsewhere has a higher repute for probity and general intelligence; and if any useful information. can go from this Territory upon the subject on which he has written, I am inclined to the opinion you will find it in the letter which I now forward to you.

With great respect, your obedient servant,

Hon. THOMAS EWBANK,

Commissioner of Patents.

J. S. CALHOUN.

SANTA FE, October 22, 1841.

SIR: In obedience to the note of your excellency, of the present month, relative to the answers that you desire me to give to the Agricultural Circular of the Commissioner of Patents of the United States, I subjoin, in conformity therewith, what I myself know respecting the same particulars, and the facts that I have been able to ascertain since the receipt of your said very valuable note.

With which I remain, most respectfully, your very obedient and sincere servant, MAN'L ALVAREZ.

His Excellency J. S. CALHOUN,

Governor of New Mexico.