33 



roots, stems, and leaves of the Yacca also subserved a good purpose in 

 forming an embankment by the side of a hill, where a tramway was 

 made to one of the shafts. 



Passing over the hills and through the gorges and over the mesas 

 that mark the configuration bordering the Eio Grande, we saw no change 

 for the better in vegetation before reaching Las Moras Creek. There I 

 found the grasses similar to those of the permanent running creeks 

 eastward. The herds of sheep and goats that one sees traveling in 

 this region must find their sustenance principally from the shoots and 

 foliage of the mesquite and other bushes. On the hills bordering the 

 Eio Grande the prickly pear is met with much less frequently than it is 

 some distance away from the river. 



As we approached Del Rio vegetation looked more cheering. There 

 had been recent rains, and grass was beginning to start afresh. I found 

 several interesting grasses at Del Eio both by the side of San Felipe 

 Creek and along the irrigating ditches through which pass the clear 

 waters of the creek, so important to the gardens and plantations around 

 Del Eio. Here I collected about a dozen grasses, incl udiug Setaria glauca 

 (at Del Eio may be its western limit), Cenchrus tribuloidcs, Genclirus 

 echinatus* and Panicum coZommm, var. zonale. On the banks of the Eio 

 Grande I found a few plants of Sporobolus Wriglitii (the Maton of the 

 Mexicans) in bloom. Later in the season this tall coarse grass forms a 

 prominent feature of the vegetation along the river. 



From Del Eio to the Devil's River I noticed no special features in the 

 vegetation. Where we crossed the river I saw a luxuriant growth of 

 Panicum sanguinale and Panicum colonum, and a number of specimens 

 of Panicum crus-galli. These three grasses, so common at many of the 

 streams throughout Texas, illustrate the fact that plants preferring 

 moist situations are of wider distribution than those in more dry situa- 

 tions. West of Devil's Eiver the Sotol (Dasylirion Texanum) became 

 noticeable from its abundance on the side of the hills — in many places 

 forming the principal vegetation. The sundry useful purposes it has 

 served are doubtless well known $ esteemed by Mexicans and others as 

 food — the leaves chopped off and the "head' 7 cooked. As furnishing 

 the mescal, the popular beverage of the Mexicans, it has long been well 

 known. The herders of sheep and goats value it as a forage plant. 

 Cattle also seem to be fond of it. I saw several plants where the leaves 

 had been cut away and the head left for the benefit of the stock. One 

 herder in Yal Verde County said that in the dry season he placed his 

 main reliance on the Sotol for the sheep. 



Proceeding westward from the Devil's Eiver, the Lechuguillo {Agave 

 heteracantlia) presents itself in great confusion, like the Sotol, occupy- 

 ing the ground in places to the exclusion of all other plants. Valued 

 as a soap or "amole" plant and as a fiber plant, the Lechuguilla has 

 long been known. The Ocotillo (Fouquiera splendens) also becomes 

 18876 GK- 3 



