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ing growth of the mesquite tree is said to have a marked 

 aud beneficial influence upon the climate of the country, 

 inducing more frequent rains and a more nutritious growth 

 of grass under its partial shade. 



One of the most common ornamental trees of the cities 

 and towns of Texas is the Prkle of India, or the China 

 Umbrella tree, Melia Azederach, a tree of exquisite sym- 

 metry and appropriate name. The Sapindus marginatus, 

 a native of the surrounding forests called wild china tree, 

 somewhat resembles the former and is often cultivated in 

 close proximity with it. 



In the neighborhood of San Antonio the vegetable pro- 

 ductions were more peculiar and strange ; among them 

 were noticed large clumps of Opuntia leomanchica, a 

 prickly pear, four to six feet in height, the branches of 

 which consist of leaves as large as dining plates, piled one 

 upon the other edge to edge. Hedges were grown of 

 it, which have the advantage of rising higher and more 

 thorny year by year. At the San Pedro springs, just out 

 of the city were seen plants of a decidedly tropical aspect ; 

 covering the surface of the water, and floating upon it, 

 hiding under the shade of trees or skirting the sunburnt 

 rocks with unfamiliar forms. 



One of the most common plants of the country was the 

 Texas flax, so called, not a flax at all, but a w T eed of 

 the Composite order, viz. : Amphiachyris Drummondii 

 and Gutierresia Texana, scarcely distinguished from each 

 other, together bear that common name. Another very 

 common plant might be mentioned, as it is sometimes in- 

 differently cultivated in our gardens, Euphorbia mar- 

 ginata, seen of all sizes, but often growing to magnificent 

 proportions, and with its striped envelopes waving in the 

 wind, is an object of considerable beauty. 



At Galveston, on the Gulf, hedges were made of the 



