1888. ] BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 259 
the sands of the desert. Similar causes, as is well known, 
operate in our own country for the production of our arid 
districts, particularly in what is called the Great Basin. A 
few years ago it was the custom to speak of the country now 
embraced in the states of Kansas, Nebraska and New Mex- 
ico as the Great American Desert. ; 
A large portion of this country, although blessed with but 
a limited rain-fall, proves to be capable of remunerative culti- 
vation. 
There are some stretches of loose, sandy soil supporting 
only a sparse vegetati: nm of Chenopodiaceous shrubs and 
Coarse grasses, but these are of limited extent. 
tis to the strip of country lying at the eastern base of 
the Sierra Nevada range of mountains, and at the south 
where this range breaks down into high and extensive pla- 
teaus in Arizona’ and southeastern California, that we find 
our nearest approach to a true desert, and to this region our 
remarks will, for the most part, be confined. For a general 
description of the physical features of this region I shall 
avail myself of many of the observations of Mr. Sereno 
to a as given in his report of the botany of the goth par- 
aiel, 
lly 
s occupied by th 
A Mmaller streams of the region 
at other points in the main depression Of sie 
tude of about 3,800 feet above the sea. The pena 
- the basin vary in altitude from 1,000 to 9, 
= valle is. : ‘eh 
They are cut up by numerous ravines or canons, Ww 
Bip ash ete oo my Tie ee a a ee 4 hoa 
FS Oye TE Pea ER aUMEN eee ee Pe 
