2 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



the surrounding region, is one of considerable interest. In the 

 early summer of 1919, we cam[)ed at Tuba for a few days on 

 our way to the great Natural Bridge over beyond Navajo 

 Mountain and observed some oi the interesting features of the 

 flora. When the opportunity tc; make a closer acquaintance 

 with it was offered in 1920, 1 quickly took advantage of it and 

 spent about a month in the region during which time practi- 

 cally a complete collection of the plants was made. Kayenta, 

 some seventy-five miles northeast of Tuba, was again visited 

 by way of Red Lake and a trip was also made to the cliff' 

 dwellings in Laguna Canyon, all of which resulted in adding 

 additional specimens to my list. 



One could scarcely imagine a more remote and isolated 

 situation for human habitations than Tuba. Accessible to 

 civilization by a single indifferent r(jad, connected with the 

 few and distant trading posts by mere trails, and surrounded 

 b)- a scattered population of Hopi and Naxajo Indians, it pre- 

 sents a phase of existence which, if somewhat retired, is not 

 without its attractions. Mocking birds sing in the spiry pop- 

 lars that line the single street, doves coo in the orchards of 

 apple, ])ear, peacli and apric(U, luunming-l)irds glide from 

 flower to flower, and the splash and gurgle of water in the 

 irrigation ditches is an ever-pleasant sound. Fed by the cool 

 clear water that here comes to the surface in a number ot 

 springs, the vegetation possesses a luxuriance finite in contrast 

 to that of the adjacent region. Only a few feet beyond the in- 

 fluence of the water, the hot. dull-red sands, thinly scattered 

 with grcascwood, rabbit-brush yucca and joint fir. stretch away 

 to the h(jrizon in grim and lifeless silence. But on the hottest 

 days, when the temperature of the desert may run well above 

 a Inindrcd, one can alwavs find coolness in the shade of the 

 l)oplars. 



The occurrence of this water in the midst of the desert 



