"The gardens and fields of Yucatan are filled with succulent vegetables and odorous herbs unknown to the outer world," writes Edward Thompson, U. S. Consul' at Progresso. He also advises that in the cultivated fields, at the proper seasons, are grown classes of Indian corn, beans, squashes, and tubers for which we have no name, for the reason that we have never seen or heard of them.

The forests and jungles contain fruits tbat, excellent even in their wild state, could be made delicious by scientific care and cultivation. There are half a score of wild fruits that offer more promising results than did the bitter wild almond, the progenitor of the peach.

These promising subjects for cultivation should attract the attention of those interested in this line of research and practical work.

The consul holds himself in readiness to supply any person who, or society which, desires the seeds or roots mentioned in these reports for the purpose of study, making only such charges as will cover the actual expense incurred.

The most important of the large cereals is the maize of the Mexicans - the indian corn of the Americans and the ixim of the Mayas of Yucatan. Yucatan has six varieties of this grain, and the Maya Indian reverently speaks of it as the "grace of God." The large stalked, large grained class known to the natives as xnuc nal (pronounced shnook ndl) is the most prominent and has by far the greater acreage devoted to its cultivation on the peninsula (Yucatan). It is planted in May, is fully matured in January, and then is left to harden and season until gathered as needed. This class most nearly resembles our indian corn. It has both the white and yellow grains. Under the haphazard methods of the native Indians, the corn produces in the limestone soil of Yucatan from 20 to 30 bushels to the acre. Under favorable conditions, this yield is often doubled.

The "xmehenal" (shmehenal) is a small, quick growing variety, about the size of our pop corn. The plants are rarely 4 feet high. One variety matures within sixty days of its planting, and the second needs but fifteen days more.

The xmehenal xtup (shtoop), planted in May, can be gathered in July,, and, while the production per acre does not quite reach the figures of the xnuc nal, it has a greater capacity of resisting the extremes of heat and dryness.

The natives of Yucatan prefer the native corn to that imported from the United States, and will cheerfully pay the higher price demanded in times of scacity.

The plant, or rather the running vine, known as the macal box (makal bosh), produces a tuberous root of great nutritive value. Entire families have lived upon this root for weeks at a time and were healthy and well nourished. This plant is very productive. About the middle of May the green shoots first appear above the earth. They grow rapidly and in November are ready to be dug. The tuber is about the size of a large Irish potato and is of a purplish color, like a certain class of sweet potato. It can be cooked in the same way as the sweet potato. The plant is hardy. A long drought may cause the vine to wither, but with the lightest rain it springs up anew. The roots left in the ground, as too small for food, propagate the plant, and each year the yield increases. It seems to be a kind of native yam; it grows in almost any kind of moderately rich soil, and when cultivated intelligently should be of certain value as a food plant. The xmakin macal (shmakeen makal), like the macal box, appears in May and is gathered in November, but it yields only one or two tubers to the plant. These, however, are of large size, resembling enormous Irish potatoes. I have seen four of these great roots fill a bushel basket. The interior is white and seems to be nearly pure starch. It is planted as we set out potatoes. The plants gro.w close together, and, while I have no exact figures, the yield per acre should be phenomenal.

Xmehen chi-can (shmehen chi kan) seems to be a kind of artichoke, weighing when mature about a pound. The plants are running vines, rarely more than a yard long. An acre will yield an immense crop under favorable conditions. The plant, sown in August, can be gathered in November.

Xnuc chi-can is a larger root, weighing when mature about three pounds. It is a hardy plant and produces well. Both of these roots are eaten roasted or boiled, and many like them raw.