65 
odium mucronatum, is now reduced to a mere “ shell,” with a few 
straggling branches, and I fear that, in spite of the rigid laws for its 
protection and the lake that is being dug about it, a few more years 
the most vigorous shoots be left to take the place of the original 
trunk when it is gone. 
magnificent grove of ahuehuetes adjoining the castle of 
Chapultepec was examined with great interest. hese ancient 
lameda, a small central park much frequented by all 
classes, is planted with a great variety of trees, shrubs, and flow- 
ers, and adorned with many statues. During the cold winter 
nights, the beds of flowers are protected from frost by heavy 
cloths supported on a network of wires. The past winter being 
unusually severe, it was necessary to use the cloths almost con- 
tinuously at night and occasionally during a part of the day. 
During the week preceding Christmas, a portion of the avenue 
adjoining the Alameda was devoted to the sale of holiday deco- 
rations and supplies of all kinds, when it presented the gayest 
and liveliest appearance imaginable. Large numbers of Christ- 
mas trees, closely resembling those sold in New York City, and 
immense quantities of Florida moss, 7i//andsia usneoides, as well 
as a variety of true mosses and ferns, from the forests in the 
mountains to the south, were here exposed for sale ; also flowers, 
fruits, sweets, hats, baskets, and a hundred other articles of native 
handiwor 
On ae eve of Christmas Day, we left Mexico City for Cuer- 
navaca, the capital of the State of Morelos, situated in the beauti- 
ful Morelos Valley, at an elevation of about 5,000 feet, and pro- 
tected from north winds by the Ajusco range. This city was 
presented by Charles V to Cortez, who introduced sugar-cane 
