The universal geography : earth and its inhabitants

400
AMAZONIA AND LA PLATA.
Aguicui.tuke.
Agriculture proper had at first a bard stmggle, having to contend especially
with the pastoral habits and traditions of the rural populations. In Entre-Rios the
first laud was broken up in obedience to the peremptory orders of the all-powcrtul
Urquiza. But these orders were of little effect, and the natives took advantage
of the least political disturbances to abandon their fields and orchards and resume
their nomad pastoral life.
Nevertheless, the revolution, which the will of one man had failed to bring
about, was accomplished b}' the new economic conditions of Europe and the New
World. When animal products began to acquire a market value, even in the
Argentine Mesopotamia, the laud itself rose in price ;
it was classified according to
the nature of its produce, and agriculture, at first developed in the neighbouihood
of the towns, gradually took possession of the more fertile regions. The arrival
of thousands and tens of thousands of foreign settlers coincided with the economic
transformations of Argentina and gave them a fresh impetus.
In 1891 the extent of land under cultivation was estimated by Brackebusch
at nearly 12,000 square miles, or rather more than the hundredth part of the
whole territory. Wheat and maize are by far the most important cereals, and
these alone cover over two-thirds of all the tilled land. Next follows alfalfa, or
lucerne, which is grown especially on the artificially irrigated lands of the west,
and which already forms a leading article of exportation.
The other vegetable products are confined to very small areas, mostly in the
province of Buenos Ayres, which supplies the capital with provisions of all kinds.
In fact, one-third of all the land under tillage lies within the limits of this
province. Santa Fe, largely occupied by foreign settlers, follows next in import-
ance, after which comes Cordoba, which, however, grows scarcely anything
except wheat and potatoes. Notwithstanding its admirable position and general
advantages, Entre-Rios takes only the fourth place, while the neighbouring and
equally favoured Corrientes stands nearly at the end of the list, after Mendoza,
San Juan, Tucuman, and San Luis.
Nearly ever}'where the farmers have to dread the plague of locusts, which at
times present themselves in serried ranks sixty miles broad. In general the yield
of wheat is far below the average of most other agricultural regions. Even in
Santa Fe, most fertile of the pampas provinces, it scarcely exceeds four or five
hushels per acre, which in France or England would be regarded as little better
than a total failure of the crops. Argentina produces much wheat, not because
of its fertility, but because of its great extent.
Sugar, next in importance to the cereals, is confined exclusively to the sub-
tropical zone, and even here to the bottom lands, forming a narrow belt which
extends from Oran, near the Bolivian frontier, to Tucuman and Santiago del
Estero. Cotton, which yielded good returns, has been nearly abandoned, while
in the same zone the vine is cultivated up to a height of 6,500 feet. The chief
wine-growing districts are in the neighbourhood of San Juan and of Mendoza,
where viticulture has acquired real importance. The total annual yield is