Floating Gardens of the Aztecs.
During all their wanderings, wherever they stopped, the Aztecs cultivated the earth and lived upon what nature gave them. Surrounded by enemies in the midst of a lake where there were but fewfishes, necessity and industry compelled them to form floating gardens on the bosom of the waters. They wove together the roots of aquatic plants interwined with twigs and branches until they formed a foundation sufficiently strong to support a soil they drew from the bottom of the lake, and on. is they sowed their needed maize and chilo. These floating gardens were about a foot above the water and of various forms, the most effective being long and narrow, called cintas, or ribbons. With their nataral taste for flowers they added the ornamental to the useful, and these small gardens, multiplying, were covered with flowers and aromatic herbs, which were used in the worship of their gods, or sent to decorate the palace of the emperor. What a picture of delightful independence. The peaceful Indian. couH anchor his flowery home where he willed, float beyond social cares or political burdens, and from prying neighbors and poll-parrot
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Bibliographic details
Tuapeka Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 1811, 11 July 1891, Page 1 (Supplement)
Word Count
193Floating Gardens of the Aztecs. Tuapeka Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 1811, 11 July 1891, Page 1 (Supplement)
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