81 



offers to Texas an inexhaustible eource of wealth; and it 

 should be a source of large profit to Dr. Paik, who has 

 brought it out to a knowledge of the public, and has 

 placed it before the country. 



Youts respectfully, , 



R. J. COORPENDEK. 



This and my communication were read to General J. R, 

 Jefferson, of Seguin, an intelligent and practical gentle- 

 man. He brought the mesquite to the notice of Dr. Park. 

 He fully sustains the representations made of the mesquite 

 as a tanning agent. He has used and is now using the 

 leather made from it, and regards it the strongest and 

 most durable he ever saw. J. M. Wilson. 



Texas has more than fourteen species of oak, all of 

 which have more or less tannin. Experiment shows that 

 oak bark cut,- in the spring has more tannin by four and a 

 half times than when, cut in the winter. It is also more 

 abundant in young than in old trees. 



When at Isleta; in El Paso county, Mr. Blanchard of 

 that place showed me a plant used by the Mexicans for 

 tanning., It flotvers in .early spring, and I did not see its 

 flowers or fruit, but judging from its leaves arid roots, it is 

 a, species of Ruraex ; some of Avhich are called "dock." 

 P.dlygonum amphibium, which belongs to the same family 

 of plants, has lately been used for tanning in some of the 

 Western States. This plant abounds in wet places in east- 

 ern and northern Texas. 



I 



FRUITS AT THE WEST. 



The grape noticed elsewhere is the chief fruit in the 

 valley of the upper Rio Grande. At El Paso, and down 

 the valley to Elcearia, pears, apples, plums, apricots and 

 peaches are also grown ; all being in common cultivation. 



I never saw such large pear trees as grow there, in any 

 othier county. At Elcearia, are several, some of which 

 I measured, which have a circumference of from 8 to upwards 

 of 9 feet at 8 feet from the ground. Such trees are on the 

 grounds of Mr. Ellis, in the town. Mr. Ellis also has a 

 large vineyard, also api^le trees and other fruits. One 

 apple tree which he says is an excellent, winter fruit, keep- 

 ing, in good condition, through winter even until July. 

 There I saw strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and 

 6 



