222 QUARTERLY JOURNAL. 



all kinds of the temperate and tropical climates, and the culinary 

 vegetables which have been introduced from Europe, thrive here. 

 The dairy and grazing are also important resources in the northern 

 and western parts of the country, and great quantities of beef and 

 pork are raised for exportation particularly in the west. The number 

 of sheep in the United Slates has been estimated at about twenty 

 milHons, yielding about fifty milHon pounds of wool annually. 



Texas. 



Climate. The climate of Texas is mild, agreeable and healthful ; 

 the heats of summer are moderated by the sea breezes, liut are 

 sometimes excessive during a few hours before sunset, when the 

 breeze dies away, ^^carcely anyj-ain falls between March and No- 

 vember, and the vegetation often suffers from droughts. In Novem- 

 ber, north winds set in, and heavy rains begin to fall : these winds « 

 blow during December and January, when the mountains are co- 

 vered with snow, and the cold is sometimes severe ; but the snow 

 seldom lies long in the lower districts. In the early spring, the rains 

 are very copious. 



Vegetable productions. The live oak is found of large size in the 

 maritime regions, chiefly between the Galveston and Matagordai 

 bays : the white, red, post and Spanish oaks ; the cotton-wood, ash, 

 elm, and sycamore or button-wood ; the black walnut, hickory, , 

 pekan ; the locust, musket, and bow-wood ; the wild cherry, mul 

 berry, chinquapin, parsimmon, etc., are among the natives of the 

 forests, and there are extensive cane brakes between the Colorado^ 

 and the Brasos. The soil and climate are favorable to the growth of 

 sugar cane, indigo, tobacco, cotton, rice, indian corn, sweet potatoes, 

 and, in some parts, of wheat, rye, oats, etc.; and the prairies afford 

 excellent pastures all the year round. 



lie 



Mexico. 

 Soil. The low plains on the coast are fertile, and have a luxuriant 

 vegetation. Much of the central table land is dry and sterile ; buti||iiiii 

 in those parts which are well watered, the vegetation is remarkably 

 vigorous. In the northwest and northeast are extensive tracts of rich 



'to 



soil 



Although the inhabitants are nourished by the soil, yet agriculture 

 is by no means in a flourishing condition. The variety of soil and 



»Vi 



