NEW MEXICO— ITS SOIL, CLIMATE, ETC. 499 



with alkaline matter will favor the production of the saccharine 

 principle. I base this opinion wholly on observations made in 

 Utah in regard to its eifect on fruit; therefore experiments may 

 prove that I am wholly mistaken. It is possible the experi- 

 ment has been tried ; if so, I am not aware of it. 



"The Irish potatoes are inferior to those raised further 

 north. Cabbages grow large and fine. Onions from the Raton 

 Mountains south have the finest flavor of any I ever tasted, 

 and therefore I am not surprised that Lieut. Emory found the 

 dishes at Bernalillo 'all dressed Avith the everlasting onion.' 

 But, as to the ' Chili,' or pepper, which is so extensively raised 

 and used in New Mexico, I beg to be excused, unless I can 

 have my throat lined with something less sensitive than 

 nature's coating. Sweet potatoes have been successfully tried 

 in the vicinity of Fort Sumner and along the head- waters of the 

 Rio Bonito. Melons, pumpkins, frijoles, etc., are raised in pro- 

 fusion in the lower valleys ; and I understand cotton was 

 formerly grown in limited quantities. 



" As a general thing, the mountains afford an abundance of 

 pine for the supply of lumber and fuel to those sufficiently near 

 to them. Some of the valleys have a limited amount of cotton- 

 wood growing along them. In addition to pine, spruce and 

 Cottonwood, the stunted cedar and mesquit, which is found over 

 a large area, may be used for fuel. The best timbered portion 

 of the Rio Grande Valley is between Socorro and Doila Aiia. 

 The east side of the Guadalupe range has an abundant supply 

 of pine of large size. Around the head-waters of the Pecos is 

 some excellent timber. \Yalnut and oak are found in a few 

 spots south, but in limited quantities, and of too small a size to 

 be of much value.'* 



