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STKOMBOCARPUS, 



ahd by the Mexicans tornilla or 

 tornea, is common in the valley of the Rio Grande from 

 Presidio to El Paso, extending upward into New Mexico. 

 It grows in clumps, having stems three to six inches in 

 diameter and a height of from ten to fifteen feet, numerous 

 branches and many thorns of a grayish-white color and 

 about one and a half inches long; has acacia-like flowers, 

 colored yellow, and dense clusters of pods twisted like the 

 threads of a screw; hence its scientific and common name. 

 It has finely pinnate leaves. I have sent seeds of it to sev- 

 eral nurserymen, who wish to introduce it into cultivation. 



There is a pine growing in the mountains of Presidio and 

 El Paso counties which is probably the Pinus cembroides 

 of Mexico. On the headwaters of the Limpia, fourteen to 

 twenty miles from Fort Davis, are several hundred acres of 

 it, valuable for its timber. It has a height of about fifty feet 

 and a diameter of from twelve to eighteen inches. East 

 of El Paso about fifty miles, there is a large pinery, 

 extending (so said), several hundred miles. Its trees are 

 often two or more feet in diameter. 



.At El Paso, furniture made of it is quite largely used. 

 When grained, it has a tine finish of a light yellow and 

 brown shade. 



MESQUITE (ALGAEOBIA), 



We found westward along nearly our entirq route to the 

 Rio Grande. West of Fort Concho it becomes dwarfed 

 ' into a shrub of very large roots. At Fort Stockton and other 

 places, its roots are used for fuel, for which they answer 

 an excellent purpose. They are dug up by the Mexicans 

 and sold at a moderate price, the large roots or under- 

 ground stems being near the surface. , , 



In central Texas and- Southward beyond San Antonio 

 the mesquite sometimes has a diameter of two or more feet, 

 I<"s wood is very durable, makes good fuel and has large 

 tanning properties. A decoction of its roots is said to be 

 a good remedy for bowel complaints. 



It exudes a gum during the dry summer time, which 

 much resembles the gum acacia. 



In going westward from the headwaters of the Concho, 

 at Centralia, we found nb trees to the Pecos, and none in 



