54 



the only fruit-tree that I have found in the South-west, and the fruit 

 of this is poor enough. It grows in the rich, light soil of the canon- 

 bottoms, attaining a size a little greater than that of Prunus Vir- 

 gi?tiana. It is very prolific, 



Sapindus marginatus^ Willd., is known in South-western New Mex- 

 ico as *' China tree." It grows with a single straight trunk, and 

 reaches a height of lO or 12 feet, and occasionally has a diameter of 

 6 inches. The fruit is said to be of value in malaria. I have some- 

 times had occasion to use the wood for ramrods, and have found it 

 very light and strong. It grows in light soil along streams and val- 

 leys at the base of the mountains. 



Negundo aceroides, Moench., grows commonly along mountain 

 streams. It reaches a diameter of about 12 or 15 inches. 



Prosopis jidiflora^ DC. — Legumes extensively used for horse- 

 fodder,' when grain cannot be obtained. 



FraxiniLS pistaciaefolia^ Torr. — This polymorphous species is 

 abundant along all mountain streams, in rocky places, often growing 

 in rock- crevices where no soil is apparent, with its feet variously 

 flattened and deformed to fit the crevices. The leaves vary much as 

 to form, margin and surface, being from ovate-oblong to obovate, 



and from glabrous to short tomentose. Like most of the hard-wood 

 timber of the Gila country, it is very subject to decay, but when 

 sound it is highly valued for the purposes for which wh\te ash is 

 commonly used. It is apparently the material of which the pre- 

 historic people of the Gila formed their bows, 



Chilopsis saligna^ Don,, grows only near water, and delights in 

 a sandy soil. It is one of the most beautiful of trees when in flower. 

 It occasionally has a diameter of nearly or quite a foot. The wood 

 resembles that of the black walnut in color, though somewhat lighter 

 and with a satiny gloss. It would apparently be valuable for cabinet- 

 work, as it is beautiful, and capable of taking the peculiar and hand- 

 some polish of sumac. 



Celtis reticulata^ Torr. — This species was observed only in the 

 Burro Mountains. The wood is very white, smooth, sound, compact 

 and heavy, and would apparently be valuable for turning purposes. 

 The trunk is very short, seldom reaching a height of more than three 

 feet before forking, and the branches are crooked and branching, 

 so that no large pieces of the wood are available. 



Moms microphylla, Buckley. — Very common in open canons of the 

 Burro Mountains, and mountains southward. It reaches a height of 

 20 feet, and a diameter of 6 to 9 inches. The fruit, though small, is 

 sweet and pleasant when ripe. The trunk is variously flattened, 

 twisted and distorted, and the bark is seldom entirely continuous 

 except in small specimens. 



Platanus Wrightii, Watson.— Common and abundant in the 

 mountam canons, being the predominant tree of the canon of the 

 Mogollon Mountains. The trunk is usually very crooked, and grain 

 more winding than in any other species. 



Juglans rupestris, Engelm. — Common in canons and valleys 

 along and near the Gila, where it grows to rather a larger size than 

 Rothrock's description credits it with. Near Mangus Springs there 



