of a cradle for such a purpose being unknown. In nearly all of Mexico, with the exception of some few districts, all grain is thrashed by the feet of horses or mules, which are driven round in a ring, the straw having been first spread on the ground, and the grain is separated from the chaff by the action of the wind. One objection urged by the Mexicans to thrashing-machines is that they leave the straw whole, while by the use of horses it is by the constant trampling cut up as fine as though run through a feed-cutter, and, as this straw is universally used as feed, any further preparation is obviated."—Consul Campbell.
On not a few of the great haciendas of Mexico American and English agricultural machinery has, however, been introduced, and more or less used. But cheapness of manual labor and the great cost incident to transportation, local taxes, etc. (agricultural machinery being free from import duties), constitute serious drawbacks to the introduction of improved machinery into the country. Added to this, should any part of a costly and unfamiliar machine break upon one of the great estates, no Mexican blacksmith can repair it—especially if the broken part is cast-iron—and the machine, in most cases, is laid aside for that season.
Nothing exhibits more strikingly the present poverty of Mexico, and the present inefficiency of
