226 The Method of Preparing Wool and Cotton. 



RHODODENDRON OCCIDENTALS. 



This beautiful flowering shrub extends from Oregon southward 

 throughout California, to the mountains of San Diego, but has not^ 

 as yet been reported from Mexican territory. It grows from two to 

 sometimes twelve feet high, rarely more than six feet, however, and 

 covers the hillsides and tangled meadows of the sierras at from, 

 three to six thousand feet altitude. 



In its magnificent display of flowers during June and July it 

 defies description, surpassing the finest oleanders and azaleas in its 

 beauty and profusion. Its masses of beautiful and fragrant flowers 

 are show}*- and attractive, the hundreds of flowers, two to three 

 inches in diameter, completely covering the bushes for weeks at a 

 time. 



The flowers are white, or commonly rose-tinged, variegated by 

 a pale yellow band. The shrub is of easy cultivation in rich moist 

 soil, and should receive treatment similar to our better known gar- 

 den azaleas. Although deciduous, it is worthy of attention among 

 ornamental plants on the Pacific Coast.- 'Like the oleander the 

 plant is poisonous if eaten by children or animals, but no bad effects 

 ever result from handling it or using the flowers.' 



INDIAN METHOD OF PREPARING WOOL AND COTTON 



It was my misfortune to be sick with intermittent fever, in 

 October, 1870, at the village of Achiabampo, Sonora, on the Gulf of 

 California. The village of Achiabampo has two distinct divisions, 

 one inhabited by Mexicans, the other by Indians. The Indians will 

 trade with and work for the Mexicans, but will not allow their 

 houses to be near the habitations of Mexicans. There was but one 

 hotel in the village, kept by a Mexican, at the edge of the Mexican 

 part and near the Indian portion of the village. 



During my convalesence I was interested in watching what 

 transpired in the Indian quarters, and particularly in observing 

 their method of preparing wool. The method was the same as 

 applied to cotton by Indians on the Atlantic side of Mexico, which 

 I had previously seen. 



An Indian's blanket by day serves him as an overcoat, by night 

 for cover, and wool is to him of great importance. He is willing to 

 bestow much labor upon its preparation. 



I am of the opinion that the method of preparation is of ancient 

 origin, though wool was unknown to the Indian before the advent 



