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about two feet high, with small, somewhat sharply-lobed, leaves. The 

 forms so common in the Greenhorn range, bearing small, nearly evergreen 

 leaves, do not grow in Southwestern Colorado. 



The subalpine Coniferas of the southwestern slope are mainly 

 Abies EiKjelmanni and gmnclis. These two species, either together 

 or in forests of one alone, cover the western slope down to the 

 altitude of Pimis ponderosa, 9,000 feet. Both species become large, 

 magnificent trees. Abies Engelmanni is the only conifer found at 

 timber-line, but A. grandis reaches very nearly to as high an 

 altitude. Abies Menziesii is confined mainly to the vicinity of the water- 

 courses between altitudes of 10,000 and 8,000 feet Abies Douglasii is 

 not very common, and grows between altitudes of 9,000 and 7,000 feet, 

 descending into the region of Pin us edulis and Juniperus occidentalis. 

 Abies concolor was not seen upon the western slope, and not a tree of 

 A. grandis could be found upon the eastern slope. The range of Abies 

 concolor in Colorado is southward from the Ute Pass and Manitou 

 (6,000 to 7,000 feet altitude) ; in the canons of the Greenhorn range, 

 to the summit of Lucille Hill, Rosita, 1,000 feet, along the Sangre de 

 Cristo and Eaton Mountains to Xew Mexico. Pinus ponderosa in South- 

 western Colorado is abundant at 8,000 feet altitude, and its large trees 

 will furnish a great amount of lumber. Pinus flexilis is not common ; 

 it grows at an altitude of 8,500 feet with Pimis ponderosa, Abies grandis, 

 3Fenzi.es ii, Engelmanni, and Douglasii, all associated at this altitude. 

 Pinns eduUs and Juniperus occidentals cover the mesas and mountains 

 below 7,500 feet altitude. The piiiou often grows in company with 

 Pimis ponderosa and Abies Douglasii, and in the Arkansas Valley grows 

 above the lower altitudes of Abies concolor and llenziesii. Last year 

 Juniperus occidentalis and Virginiana, Abies concolor, and Pimis ponde- 

 rosa matured quantities of fruit, and probably the other Conifewe also 

 did ; but this year, wishing to collect seeds, I was unable to find any, 

 and am sure that the Conifers of Southern Colorado matured no fruit. 

 Pimis edulis is said to fruit once in seven years, and it certainly some- 

 times fruits in such abundance that the nuts are collected by the Mexi- 

 cans in quantity. 



Southwestern Colorado having never been the residence of the white 

 man, those plants which become introduced with eastern seeds have not 

 yet made their appearance. Xanthium- stmmarhim has been probably 

 introduced upon both eastern and western slopes. Upon the eastern slope 

 it is said to have come from Texas with the importation of cattle, the 

 burrs clinging to their hair and becoming everywhere distributed. 

 Upon the western slope it perhaps was introduced from the south by the 

 cattle, sheep, and goats of the Indians. It is not as common as upon 

 the eastern slope, but will become so when farmers, like those of the 

 eastern slope, begin to irrigate the laud. Xantliium must have a loca- 

 tion where its roots can reach wet ground, and prefers the banks of irri- 

 gation-ditches, where, in company with other troublesome plants, it is 

 permitted to grow to perfection, and its seeds spread over the cultivated 

 fields. The corn-fields of the band of Utes about El Late are not irri- 

 gated and are free from introduced weeds, having very few of any sort. 

 The corn is planted in hills without any regularity 5 the roots striking 

 down to moisture soon, they are but slightly dependent upon showers 

 from El Late. The most noticeable plants growing among the corn were 

 Nicotiana attennata and Convolvulus sepium. The edges of the field pro- 

 duced a fine growth of those species of HeUanthus which so rapidly in- 

 crease in number with the irrigation and cultivation of the soil. Helian- 

 tlius petio laris and lenticularis are now sparingly found in Southwestern 



