66 OBSERVATIONS OF A RANCHWOMAN 



pests which have lately begun to infest our 

 orchards is one proof nay, one of several 

 of the existence of the latter ; yet the 

 exercise of prevention as well as cure would 

 soon rid us of worms and insects which have 

 partially devastated orchards in neighbouring- 

 States. 



Another industry here, which has been 

 tried in a small way with success, is the 

 drying of fruit for market. If successful on 

 a large scale in California, it surely should be 

 so in New Mexico, where the climate is far 

 more suitable for the process. Everything 

 exposed to the sun and air in this region 

 desiccates rather than decays. A gay- 

 plumaged bird, shot and lost, was found two 

 or three weeks later in a perfect state of pre- 

 servation dried like a mummy, yet feathers 

 and shape perfect. This was in winter, too, 

 when the power of the sun is, of course, less 

 intense than in summer. A taxidermist could 

 scarcely have improved upon Nature's work. 



All the common cereals do well with us, 

 wheat in particular partly, perhaps, because 

 wheat is a crop which is usually ready to cut 

 before the river gives out. When the water- 



