288 



ARBORICULTURE 



Arhoric ultun- \\\ the, I2<.|)ul)li('. 



My investigations have not been en 

 tirely satisfactory along this line, yet the 

 trip was not by any means fruitless. 



Mexico possesses comparatively few 

 trees of great economic value, and little 

 attempt is made at improvement. Ther<3 

 is considerabel pine on the higher moun- 

 tains, but it is scattered; there are no 

 dense pine forests. Near the railway, 

 none; all has been cleared. Americans 

 are here trying to secure concessions in 

 pine lands, but the Government seems 

 to understand the case and refuses to 

 give away its valuable possessions. 



One official informed me that the cli- 

 mate had changed very materially since 

 the clearing by the Spaniards 300 years 

 ago. Others confirmed this opinion, as- 

 suring me that aqueducts and irrigation 

 works, once carrying vast quantities of 

 water, are now valueless, there being no 

 continuous flow of the streams which 

 formerly fed them. 



There is much small shrub growth on 

 the higher land, which has an influence 

 to a certain extent, but its economic 

 value is extremely small. Eucalyptus 

 has been planted to some extent and suc- 

 ceeds well, the principal variety being 

 Globulis. But, like the residents of Cal- 

 ifornia, few appreciate its vast impor- 

 tance. 



Among the many varieties of eucalyp- 

 tus there are some which will thrive on 

 all the hills and produce in the fu- 

 ture an abundance of lumber and tim- 

 ber. 



CATAI.l'A. 



Two years ago one hundred catalpa 

 trees were sent to Mexico City for ex- 

 periment. I have made several ineffect- 

 ual attempts to And them. I did not 

 find a large catalpa tree in the Repub- 

 lic, but found quite a number of smaller 

 sizes in various cities. 



Ash, ailanthus, honey locust, black lo- 

 cust and some other Northern trees are 

 growing well in Mexico, as well as tulip 

 poplar. 



Considering the various conditions ex- 

 isting and plant growth which I found, 

 I am certain that the catalpa will be- 

 come a prominent and successful tree in 

 many portions of the Republic. 



The Republic of Mexico is as yet a 

 vast undeveloped country. In the low 

 east coast and Isthmus hmd the heat is 

 that of the tropics, and the productions 

 are also tropical, but on the great mesas 

 of the north and elevated country about 

 Mexico City the temperature varies but 

 slightly during the year, vegetation is 

 continuous, combining the products of 

 the temperate with those of the semi- 

 tropic regions. 



I saw a disc gang plow of best Ameri- 

 can manufacture drawn by two mules or 

 oxen, hitched at the end of the tongue, 

 a pole sixteen feet long. Too far from 

 the draft, not easily controlled, and ma- 

 chine enough for four powerful horses. 

 The driver made a series of crooked lines 

 across the field, doing no good whatever. 

 His ox team with native one-handled 

 primitive plow would have done better 

 execution in such hands. 



Proper information in regard to the 

 use of these implements is needed. Man- 

 ufacturers of agricultural (and other) 

 machinery would do well to bring a num- 

 ber of practical men from the States to 

 teach the natives how to use the ma- 

 chinery. There is no doubt but with 

 improved tools and intelligent instruc- 

 tion there will be great advances in all 

 lirauches of business. 



The same mistake is being made in 

 Mexico as in California in using so much 

 pine wood for fuel. Engines burn it on 

 the railway. It is shipped to the city 

 for sale, and is made into charcoal uni- 

 versally. By doing so seed trees are de- 

 stroyed, and such as are not suitable for 

 lumber are made into fuel. It were bet- 

 ter these trees should be left to grow 

 int6 good lumber and nerpetuate the for- 

 ests. There is much wood of no value 

 except for fuel — enough, I should think 

 — and the pine should be saved. 



