ARID AND SEMI-ARID REGIONS 189 



say nothing of bathing, and with water for these 

 purposes enough could probably be obtained for 

 house plants and vines. There should also be a 

 vegetable-garden, and to conserve moisture for this 

 a surrounding growth of bushes would be advanta- 

 geous. Experiments have shown that even a slight 

 breeze doubles the evaporation from the ground and 

 a strong wind has a marked effect. Bushes, there- 

 fore, by checking the wind, help to keep the garden 

 moist so that vegetables, which are important for 

 food, can be gro\vn. The surrounding bushes can 

 be varied in outline, especially along the outer mar- 

 gin, thus making an interesting detail in landscape. 

 It may not be feasible in an arid region to have many 

 trees, but a single specimen, perhaps a pine or a red 

 cedar like those one sees from trains in passing through 

 New Mexico, can usually be so placed with reference 

 to the house as to make a picture for one to look at 

 when approaching the home. Such a tree will also 

 give shade and make the view from a house more 

 interesting. 



The problem for a landscape-gardener in any loca- 

 tion is to make the most of the available materials. 

 It is \vise always to work in harmony with what 

 nature has done in the surrounding territory. In 



