BOTANY.—NATURAL HISTORY.— SOILS. 3 
and of mineral water were also collected; and the results will be found fully set forth in the 
forthcoming report of the geologist to whom they were submitted. 
Captain C. L. Taplin, my second assistant, was charged with the duty of making this collec- 
tion, and its successful results are a sufficient evidence of his industry and intelligence. 
Botanical department.—' The collections in this department of science were not restricted to 
what was new or undescribed, as I considered it quite as interesting to know that the flora of 
this region were the same as those common to other parts of the country, or that they were dif- 
ferent. It was, therefore, established asa rule to collect everything; it being as easy at the 
conclusion of the survey to reject what was superfluous, as it would be difficult to replace what 
was wanting. 
A complete collection of the grasses of the country was made, as their quality and quantity 
had an immediate and important bearing upon the determination of its agricultural character. 
The entire collection, which is large, was made by Dr. W. L. Diffenderfer, who accompanied 
the expedition as surgeon and naturalist ; and has been submitted for examination to Dr. John 
Torrey, of New York, whose interesting report upon the subject will be found in a supplemen- 
tary volume. 
Natural history department.—The collections in this department were divided among several 
persons. 
The birds and small animals, which required careful preparation to be safely transported, 
were prepared and arranged by Dr. Diffenderfer; and the collection of fishes, reptiles, and 
insects was made by Lieutenant L. H. Marshall, 3d infantry, to whom I am greatly indebted 
for the unceasing interest he manifested in the success of the expedition, and for his untiring 
labors in completing a collection which has been pronounced excellent. 
This collection was submitted to Professor S. F. Baird, of the Smithsonian Institute, and his 
preliminary report is attached. 
Soils.—I considered it important to collect specimens of soils at all interesting points along 
the line, and a full collection was therefore made both from the valleys and the table-lands. 
The plan pursued was to collect at all places where the character of the surface changed, and 
each specimen collected consisted of three bundles, attached together and labelled: 1st, surface 
soil; 2d, soil six inches below the surface; and 3d, soil one foot below the surface. In this 
manner the character and relative value of the soils from all the valleys and table-lands be- 
tween the Rio Grande and Red rivers were determined. 
This collection, with the mineral waters, was placed in the hands of Professor James OC. 
Booth, of Philadelphia, and his report, with the analysis in each case, will be found in the 
appendix. 
A full set of meteorological observations was kept by Dr. Diffenderfer. This table exhibits, 
for the months of February, March, April, and May, the temperature of the air at sunrise, at 
9 o'clock a. m., at 12 m., and at 3 and 9 o'clock p. m., for each day, and, at every camping 
place, the temperature of the earth three feet beneath the surface; also the direction and char- 
acter of the winds, the state of the atmosphere, the condition and character of the vegetation, 
and the temperature and description of the watering-places at each encampment. 
I consider these tables eminently useful in exhibiting the climate of the country, and the 
character and extent of the wood and water along the route. 
- The diary of the expedition, which is also appended, although it contains much that is irrele- 
vant and uninteresting, will nevertheless serve a useful purpose in filling up details of the 
features of the country, and the character of the route for each day, and may be of service to 
such persons as are inclined to pursue this route to the valley of the Rio Grande. 
Such have been the persons employed, and, briefly, the instruments used and the methods 
pursued in determining the data upon which the gue of this survey have been made, and upon 
which are based the opinions expressed in the repo 
As not only the results deduced from these dii: but the observations by which the data 
