376 



though most abundant, has not i^roved remunerative to growers, and 

 would have been lost had it not been for the canning of the fruit, which 

 has been undertaken here on an extensive scale for the first time. 



Climate and productions in New Mexico. — Bona Ana^ N. Mex. : 

 My acquaintance with this valley commenced in March, 18G3. The cli- 

 mate made a strong and favorable impression on my mind for its dryness 

 and salubrity. Since then I have found that the invalid here can take 

 oi;t-door exercise on at least three hundred and sixty days in the year, 

 and always in the bright sunshine, if so disposed. The dryness of the 

 atmosphere prevents the rise of malarious vapors from the ground, and 

 there are no swamps and marshes whence poisonous exhalations can 

 come. 



The prevailing rain-fall is summer showers, more on the high moun- 

 tains and plains than in the valleys. It would be exceedingly difficult 

 to determine the mean annual fall for this county, except by observations 

 on each six square miles of territory. Some rain, perhaps snow, may be 

 expected during winter. The spring and fall months are almost invari- 

 ably rainless. Most rain falls in July. The rainy season, if we can be 

 said to have one, follows the summer solstice. Irrigation is an absolute 

 necessity to the growth of all crops ; no crop is ever attempted where 

 the irrigating ditch does not reach. The laud in this valley lies so level 

 it can all be bedded and flooded. The Eio Grande is almost the entire 

 source of supply for water in this county, and its very muddy waters 

 pour over the land at each application a rich sediment, that will render 

 the soil as durable as that of Egypt where flooded by the Nile. To 

 secure a contiuued increase of richness, the farmer need only turn under 

 his stubble and weeds, and apply su^h yard-manure as he can make. 



The year will not average three days in which the jdow cannot be 

 run in the cultivation of the land. I have never seen or heard of but 

 one day on which the mercury remained at the freezing-point through- 

 out the day ; then three-fourths of an inch of ice formed on still water. 

 The fig-tree lives by the protection of a house. No apple, pear, plum, 

 peach, apricot, or almond tree is tender. Grapes do better if slightly 

 hilled up at the commencement of winter ; but the tops of the most 

 tender foreign sorts will not kill by reason of the cold. Summer fairly 

 sets in by the middle of April, after which no frost need be looked for. 

 As the grape-buds do not generally open before the eighth, the grape- 

 crop is seldom hurt. Grapes are grown here in a manner almost iden- 

 tical with the practice at Caboul, as described in the Agricultural Re- 

 ports of 18G0. In fact, our climate and elevation, 4,000 feet, are almost 

 identical with that place. Oidiuni never grows on our vines or fruit, 

 and the root-louse is not here. Apples, pears, and quinces have no rust- 

 specks on their skins, no moss or liverwort on their bark. 



The first frosts are expected in October, thus giving to this valley six 

 months without any frost ; and with our great heat, ample time is se- 

 cured for maturing all kinds of fruit not tropical. Corn may be safely 

 planted in March, and the roasting-ears picked by July 1. Alfalfa can be 

 cut the middle of May for green soiling, or for hay the 1st of June. It 

 yields five cuttings. Wheat and rye sown in October could be cut for 

 feed by the 5th of May, and they would ripen by the middle of June. 

 Pasturage in this valley is poor, no good native grass exists, and the 

 I)asture-grasses of the States cannot thrive under our bright sun and 

 dry atmosphere. Dairymen would be compelled to keep their cows in 

 yards, where they could be fed on cut food and have plenty of shade, 

 "stock-cattle and sheep are pastured on the high plains and mountains, 

 where they find their feed in the gramma and other grasses, the year 

 round. Such pasturage is only limited by distance from water. 



