The Spanish in the Southwest . s machine the ground wasplowed, or scratched over, to receive the grain. The seedwas scattered broadcast and harrowed in by draggingover it branches of trees. With even this rude cultivationthe rich soil yielded heavy returns. When the grain was ready to harvest, the Indians cutit with sickles, and carried it on their backs to a corral tobe thrashed. It was spread on the ground, which hadbeen pounded until it was smooth and hard, and a droveof wild horses was let into the corral. .The straw wasturned a few times, and the horses were driven about untilthey had tra
The Spanish in the Southwest . s machine the ground wasplowed, or scratched over, to receive the grain. The seedwas scattered broadcast and harrowed in by draggingover it branches of trees. With even this rude cultivationthe rich soil yielded heavy returns. When the grain was ready to harvest, the Indians cutit with sickles, and carried it on their backs to a corral tobe thrashed. It was spread on the ground, which hadbeen pounded until it was smooth and hard, and a droveof wild horses was let into the corral. .The straw wasturned a few times, and the horses were driven about untilthey had trampled out the kernels; then they were turned Life in the Pueblos and on the Ranches 187 out and the straw was beaten by hand with heavy sticksto shake out any remaining heads, or these were rubbedout by the Indians in their hands. The straw was thentaken away, leaving the grain, chaff, and broken bits ofstraw on the ground. The breeze was now set to work. Some windy day themingled straw and grain were thrown up into the air by. Grinding corn means of heavy wooden forks, the straw and chaff wereblown away, and the grain was left ready to be groundinto flour. The whole process was so slow and difficultthat, although grain would grow almost wild on the hillsand plains, flour was scarce and wheat bread was the Americans came there were only the rudestkinds of mills in the country. The Spaniards, like theIndians, used a mortar and pestle for grinding out thegrain, or rubbed it into flour on the metate. As years 188 Spanisli California passed, a sort of mill was made by placing one heavystone on top of another. The upper one was flattened alittle, and in it was placed an iron bolt, by means ofwhich a horse or mule could be fastened to the rudemill. The stone turned but once as the animal walkedaround, so that a days hard work by a mule wouldresult in very little flour. The Spaniards greatly enjoyed taking care of the im-mense herds of cattle. These were allowed to run wil
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookidspanishinsou, bookyear1903
