584 CATTLE AND DAIEY FARMING. 



it will support nothing but goats. Much of this barrenness is caused 

 by lack of regular rainfall. 



CLIMATE. 



The average temperature of the coast lands of Taraaulipas is about 

 77° Fahrenheit. The coldest weather is usually in January. Near 

 Matamoras frosts occur every winter, and occasionally a little snow falls. 

 Farther down the coast the winters are much milder. The greatest 

 heat is usually in June, when 100° Fahrenheit in the shade is occasion- 

 ally reached. The temperature ranges in the nineties for some four 

 months, May, June, July, and August. 



The difierence between maximum and minimum daily heat is about 

 10° to 15°. The northers, a strong wind from the north, with or with- 

 out rain, blow at intervals in the colder months. These begin light and 

 warm in September and come, say, two per month until April. The most 

 severe ones are usually in December or January. Their duration is from 

 three to ten days. In the intervals the weather is comparatively cool, 

 say 70° to 80° in the middle of the day. For ten months the wind is 

 from the south. Without this wind the climate would be almost un- 

 endurable. The annual rainfall is about 33.65 inches, nearly one-half 

 of which often comes in the autumn. Up river the extremes of heat are 

 much greater, the temperature sometimes reaching 117° Fahrenheit in 

 the shade. The absence of the trade wind with the great heat makes 

 the climate very trying. In the winter the northers blow with great 

 force, and the temperature goes lower than near the coast. On the 

 higher plateaus the climate is more equable. Some portions, like Sal- 

 tillo, have a magnificent climate. 



ELEVATIONS. 



The coast portion of Tamaulipas is from 100 to 200 feet above the sea 

 level. 



This city, Matamoras, is 165 feet; Nuevo Laredo, 806 feet; Piedras 

 Negras, 1,461 feet ; mouth of Pecos, 2,027 feet; near Presidio del JS'orte, 

 2,779 feet ; near Paso del Norte, 3,684 feet. These elevations are those 

 given in Major Emory's boundary survey. The Mexican Central Eail- 

 way gives the height of Paso del Norte at 3,756 feet; Chihuahua City 

 4,672 feet; Lerdo, 3,764 feet. The late Consul Wadsworth gives the 

 height of Saltillo in Coahuila at 5,217 feet. 



CATTLE IN COAHUILA. 



The sudden death of Consul Wadsworth of Saltillo, which occurred 

 on the 8th instant, has been a serious loss in the preparation of this re- 

 liort. At the time of his death he was preparing a report not only upon 

 the points suggested in the circular but upon others which I had asked 

 of him. He was to have had photographs of cattle taken in Saltillo to 

 show more plainly the difference between the same animals on the coast 

 and on the plateaus. His zeal and ability were such as to warrant me 

 in expecting a very valuable report. 



CONSUL SCOTT'S REPORT. 



The report from Consul Scott, of Chihuahua, herewith transmitted, is 

 of special interest, because from his long residence there and ownership 

 of such cattle he is particularly well informed. 



