8 East and West 
sunshine nor is it dry. There is none of the 
magic in the air which constitutes the charm of 
Western Mexico, foritis damp air. Anadobe 
brick in Morelos will dry in a short time; how 
the old Spaniards ever dried adobe bricks in 
Santa Barbara, I do not know, but the fact 
remains that they did. It is certainly rain- 
less in summer but there is fog—and adobe 
needs sunshine and abundance of it. 
Plants respond to their environment so 
closely that by a mere glance at the flora a 
naturalist can tell something of the climatic 
conditions. Lichens, ferns, and mosses are 
as certain evidence of humidity as cacti of 
dryness, and wherever they abound you may 
know, all assertions to the contrary, that a 
damp climate prevails. It is usually as- 
sumed that the air of the mountains is dry. 
It is true the air is purer and that on mountain 
slopes at a slight elevation, as along the foot- 
hills of the Santa Inez in what is called the 
lemon belt, the air is drier and warmer than 
at the seashore; but on mountain summits, 
except in dry climates, the air is moisture 
laden, and on the summits of the Catskills 
and Adirondacks are always found water- 
loving plants. 
With some of the heirs of this estate, climate 
