85 



the Pecos valley near the bridge at tRe El Paso stage cross- 

 ing , but shrubs of the mesquite (Algarobia) and several 

 spepies of Acacia were quite common. Beyond the Pecos, 

 on the Fort Stockton road, at and near Escondido springs, 

 we again found small trees of the Texas china tree (Sapin- 

 dus) and Chilopsis lineata, the last of which is cultivated at 

 Austin. 



At Fort Stockton there is but one tree more than six 

 inches in diameter. This is a cottonwood (Populus) of a 

 diameter of about eighteen inches, and height of fifty feet. 

 This is at the Government gardens. This vi^ill not long be 

 So, for many cottonwoods have been planted, and these 

 are rapid growers. 



At Fort I)avis, we found wood selling at about seventy- 

 five cents a " burro " load. These are large packages tied 

 on the back, of a jack or burro, in charge of a Mexican. 



About twelve, miles beyond Fort Davis, westward, is 

 SkiUman's Grove, a beautiful valley amid fine mountain 

 scenery, shaded with large spreading live oaks and an un- 

 determined species of oak. Beyond the Barrel spring, 

 ■v*-estward, to Muerto, , no trees are seen ; but shrubs are not 

 rare until 'within three or four miles of the stage stand, and 

 beyond this for several miles there are no shrubs. Not 

 knovping this, we had to go supperless one night at the 

 Muerto springs, and go nines miles westward next morning 

 to breakfast, because we had no wood or fuel. 



Westward we saw but a very few small trees along the 

 road, until we came to the Rio Grande, -where we were 

 cheered with the sight of, trees again. Shrubs abound 

 along the route, giving a sufliciency of fuel to travelers for 

 cooking purposes. This is only near the El Paso stage 

 road from Fort Davis. Amid the mountains, on either 

 side, oaks, cedars and pines abound. These 1 saw in the 

 vicinity of Eagle springs, at Van Horn's well, and also at 

 the MuertOy showing that there is a sufiiciency of fuel for 

 the domestic use of a large agricultural population — stock- 

 growers chiefly, for this is eminently a stock-growing 

 country. ' . 



Cottonwoods and willows are the principal trees in the 

 valley of the Rio Grande. These trees along the ditches, 

 or seches used for irrigation, add beauty to the landscape. 



