456 The Mezqutt. [May, 
judging from the unfaded foliage, furnished enough nutriment to 
sustain life. 
Propagation and Growth—One, viewing the extent and dense- 
ness of mezquit woods, and the intricacy of the many creeping, 
superficial roots, would be likely to suppose that this plant propa- 
gates itself by subterranean runners. Such is not the case. Often, 
indeed, the base of shrubs, or small trees, becoming buried in the 
loose soil, secondary branches growing off the spreading lower 
limbs now under ground, may seem to spring from runners, but 
it is merely so in appearance; mezquit is propagated by seed 
only. 
It seldom happens that the pods, as they drop to the ground, 
are placed under favorable conditions for germination; they mostly 
decay on the soil, or are destroyed by insects; so that we may, 
in the spring, explore extended woods without finding a single 
yearling sprout. The spontaneous growth of seedlings occurs 
only in particularly propitious seasons, at irregular intervals of 
years. 
We often see spring seedlings, growing unbidden, in cultivated 
beds or plots which have been watered and fertilized; likewise 
around the edges of manure heaps after rains; SO that there 
should be no difficulty, with some care, to raise the plant vert 
the seed at will. The indehiscent pod should be broken oad a 
many one-seeded joints, and these planted at the beginmns 
the rainy season in well-prepared ground. Next year the yous 
seedling may be a foot or more high, and can be transplan 
wherever wanted, during the summer rains. In four or five yeu" 
it has become a goodly shrub. 
low. Wher 
Thereafter the growth of the mezquit is very 5 
A ` hes in diat- : 
about thirty years old, the stem is seven or eight inc 
eter; when about fifty, from eight to 10 inches; va the diame | 
enty-five, from ten to twelve inches; and wh ld. 
exceeds a foot, the tree is one hundred years or more z 
Generally sprouts grow in clusters, because 0 
of several seeds from the same pod. On rich 
strongest stem, in time, destroys the others, and 
into a tree; on higher and dryer land several of the if 
simultaneously, forming clusters of thick shoots o pills abot 
coalescing at base, a mode of growth common 0” si 
4 
1 
San Antonio. 
