gtf Bulletin No. 34. 



calities where there is little water. Even where there is ample 

 water for irrigation my observation has been that the Mesquite 

 and Palo Verde invariably excel the Umbrella tree and most other 

 imported trees from an effective and decorative standpoint at the 

 expiration of five years after planting. 



This certainly has been the experience on the University 

 grounds at Tucson. Contrary to the general opinion, the growth 

 of the Mesquite, Palo Verde and most other indigenous trees of 

 our foothills and plains, is remarkably rapid, particularly when 

 grown for decorative purposes, where they may be given more 

 water than under natural conditions. A specimen of one of our 

 native species of Palo Verde, namely, theBagote (Va-go-tay), now 

 growing on the University grounds, has a trunk ten inches in 

 diameter and a wide spreading, handsome top, fully twenty-four 

 feet in width. This tree grew fiom seed since 1893. In rapidity 

 of growth it has far outstripped the Ash, Locust, Umbrella, 

 Catalpa and Mesquite, growing in like situation. The Sta- 

 tion has on hand a quantity of the seeds of this tree which 

 will willingly be distributed free of charge to those desiring to plant 

 them. 



Our foothills and lower mountains abound in trees and shrubs, 

 many of which grow with great rapidity and are more attractive 

 than many of the things that we get from away, particularly if we 

 cannot give them special attention. Our Yuccas and Agaves are 

 especially decorative and should receive much more attention than 

 they do. In order to introduce the native plants into our gardens, 

 they must usually be grown from seed. It is only in rare instances 

 that the ordinary person will succeed in digging a plant in its wild 

 State and in successfully planting it. 



In addition to our native plants, those which grow in and ad- 

 jacent to the deserts of the Old World are especially desirable. 

 There is no reason why avenues of date palms should not border 

 our canals and ditches instead of worm-eaten cotton woods. Date 

 seeds germinate readily, and if thrown out along ditches will grow 

 without any further attention and in a few years' time will grow 

 into attractive, wide-spreading plants. 



