THE MAKE OF THE DESERT 



41 



there is perhaps some underground water, there 

 are occasionally found trees and large bushes, 

 and the very high sierras have forests of pine 

 belted about their tops ; but usually the desert 

 ranges are barren. They never bore fruit. The 

 washings from them are grit and fry of rock 

 but no vegetable mould. The black dirt that 

 lies a foot or more in depth upon the surface of 

 the eastern prairies, showing the many years 

 accumulations of decayed grasses and weeds, is 

 not known anywhere on the desert. The slight 

 vegetation that grows never has a chance to turn 

 into mould. And besides, nothing ever rots or 

 decays in these sands. Iron will not rust, nor 

 tin tarnish, nor flesh mortify. The grass and 

 the shrub wither and are finally cut into pieces 

 by flying sands. Sometimes you may see small 

 particles of grass or twigs heaped about an ant- 

 hill, or find them a part of a bird's nest in a 

 cholla ; but usually they turn to dry dust and 

 blow with the wind at the wind's will. 



The desert mountains gathered in clusters 

 along the waste, how old and wrinkled, how set 

 and determined they look ! Somehow they 

 remind you of a clenched hand with the 

 knuckles turned skyward. They have strength 

 and bulk, the suggestion of quiescent force. 



Mountain 

 vegetation. 



Withered 

 grasses. 



