. 33 
roots, stems, and ieaves of the Yacea also subserved a good purpose in 
forming an embankment by the side of a hill, where a tramway was 
made to one of the shafts. 
Passing over the hills and through the gorges and over the mesas 
that mark the configuration bordering the Rio Grande, we saw no change 
for the better in vegetation before reaching Las Moras Creek. There I 
found the grasses similar to those of the permanent running creeks 
eastward. The herds of sheep and goats that one sees traveling in 
this region must find their sustenance principally from the shoots and 
foliage of the mesquite and.other bushes. On the hills bordering the 
Rio Grande the prickly pear is met with much less frequently than it is 
some distance away from the river. 
As we approached Del Rio vegetation looked more cheering. There 
had been recent rains, and grass was beginning to start afresh. I found 
several interesting grasses at Del Rio both by the side of San Felipe 
Creek and along the irrigating ditches through which pass the clear 
waters of the creek, so important to the gardens and plantations around , 
Del Rio. Herel collected about a dozen grasses, including Setaria glauca 
at Del Rio may be its western limit), Cenchrus tribuloides, Cenchrus 
echinatus, and Panicum colonum, var. zonale. On the banks of the Rio 
Grande I found a few plants of Sporobolus Wrightii (the Maton of the 
Mexicans) in bloom. Later in the season this tall coarse grass forms a 
prominent feature of the vegetation along the river. 
From Del Rio to the Devil’s River I noticed no special features in the 
vegetation. Where we crossed the river I saw a luxuriant growth of 
Panicum sanguinale and Panicum colonum, and a number of specimens 
of Panicum crus-galli. These three grasses, so common at many of the 
streams throughout Texas, illustrate the fact that plants preferring 
moist situations are of wider distribution than those in more dry situa- 
tions. West of Devil’s River the Sotol (Dasylirion Texanum) became 
noticeable trom its abundance on the side of the hills—in many places 
forming the principal vegetation. The sundry useful purposes it has 
served are doubtless well known; esteemed by Mexicans and others as 
food—the leaves chopped off ‘ial the “head” cooked. As furnishing 
the meseal, the popular beverage of the Mexicans, it has long been well 
known. The herders of sheep and goats value it as a forage plant. 
Cattle also seem to be fond of it. I saw several plants where the leaves 
had been cut away and the head left for the benefit of the stock. One 
herder in Val’ Verde County said that in the dry season he placed his 
main reliance on the Sotol for the sheep. 
Proceeding westward from the Devil’s River, the Lechuguillo (Agave 
heteracantha) presents itself in great confusion, like the Sotol, occupy- 
ing the ground in places to the exclusion of all other plants. Value 
asa soap or “amole” plant and as a fiber plant, the Lechuguilla has 
long been known. The Ocotillo (Fouquiera splendens) also becomes 
18876 GR——3 
