98) OPEN LETTERS 363 
ecause he desires to call the attention of American and English botanists to 
sveral Mexican localities with which he is personally familiar, having visited 
them inthe summer of 1896. 
Orizaba.—Orizaba is a town of 15,000 inhabitants in the state of Vera 
Cruz, on the line of the Mexican railway, 82 miles from Vera Cruz, 181 miles 
from the City of Mexico, at an elevation of 4000 feet above the level of the 
va, The town lies in a little valley surrounded by very fine mountains. 
The peak of Orizaba (17,356*), however, cannot be seen from the town, 
ahough within a half day’s journey. The town is composed for the most 
jart of low houses with red tiled roofs; it is crossed by two small streams 
_fadby the little river Orizaba (through a rocky ravine filled with tropical 
plants) allof which unite near by in the river Blanco. The region is espe- 
‘ally rich in tropical orchids and epiphytes. The city is in close proximity 
othe tierra caliente, the tierra templada, and, on the sides of Mount Orizaba, 
the terra fria. A tramway extends from the station into the town, pass- 
ag the doors of the hotels - another line extends to the pretty suburb Yngenio, 
aid thence a little’ beyond to the Nogales station on the Mexican railroad. 
Of superb beauty and grandeur, affording fine botanizing ground, is the 
(in of the Rincon Grande about three miles out of the town. Orizaba and 
, * neighboring town of Cordoba (2000*) are easily reached by the Mexican 
cranes Vera Cruz after three hours’ ride through grand and inspiring 
Untain scenery. Botanists from the central and eastern United States can 
| i Vera Cruz by steamer direct from New York, New Orleans, and Gal- 
oes M Botanists from the Pacific coast and from the Rocky -capesianeiae 
) i can take the overland route from El Paso to the City of Mexico, and 
Pe cto Orizaba, passing across the interesting Mexican deserts and descend- 
| ag by Step from the elevated Mexican tableland in the “e774 templada 
a ordoba in the “erra caliente. 
is @.— Jalapa, reached from Vera Cruz and from the City of Mexico, 
4 ay exceptional advantages for tropical botanical — ee 
- pecial Owever, to neither of these places that the writer wishe se 
Y. Itis to the little known and interesting reg!om tributary to ™ 
aport of Tampico on the Gulf coast. Tampico is too — 
tote ablishment of a station there, although the region are - 
interest with the river Panuco and the Lago de Tamiahua giving acc . 
to the luxuriant tropical forest of the Gulf coast. If such 4 . 
established, it must be at sufficient elevation to have a cemeiaes 
Such a place is found at a station on the Mexican Central railroa 
Canoas, 144 miles distant from Tampico. 
as.— Las Canoasis situated in the beautiful basin-Sh@P 
(3500 abo level). The soil is a red clayey loam, 
ve sea level) "fords an abundant supply of 
E 
“alled Las 
fe ano ed valley 
thay Name and a 
m i j + z . . 
om having its rise in a perennial spring, 
