148 
TAOS COUNTY. 
(Area, 2,300 square miles; estimated forest area, 900 square miles.) 
This county is centrally situated upon the northern line of New Mexico. 
Its eastern boundary is the Main Rocky Mountain range. The Rio 
Grande River runs through the central part of the county, from north 
to south. Numerous small streams flow from the mountains at the east- 
ward and unite with the Rio Grande. This district is the best watered 
of any in the Territory. The western portion of the county is more arid 
than the rest, but is well fitted for grazing purposes. 
The forest land is situated mostly in the eastern and southern parts 
of the county, excepting a narrow strip along the western side. About 
five-eighths of the forest area is fully stocked—good for timber; the 
remainder consists of young growth and tracts made waste by burning. 
In the mountains are quite heavy bodies of Yellow, White, and Black 
Pine, Spruce, and Fir. Aspen also covers large tracts which have been 
denuded of the original species. At lower altitudes are Scrub Oak, 
Pifion, and Cedar, some of the latter being quite large. Cottonwood 
(Populus monilifera and P. angustifolia) borders many of the streams. 
By a proper system of irrigation, at least one-half of the entire area 
of the county could be brought under cultivation. At the present time, 
only a very small proportion of the land is cultivated. 
VALENCIA COUNTY. 
(Area, 7,700 square miles; estimated forest area, 960 square miles. ) 
This county, which is situated in central New Mexico, extends from 
the western border three-fourths of the distance across the Territory. 
Near the center it is divided by the Rio Grande River, and at a few 
miles west of that point it is again intersected by the Rio Puerco River. 
These two streams, and the Zuni River in the west, are the principal 
water-courses. Portions of the county are very broken and mountain- 
ous. The Zuiiand San Matéo Mountains at the northwest, and the 
Manzano Mountains east of the Rio Grande, are the most important 
ranges. Although farming and fruit growing are prosecuted to some 
extent along the valleys of the streams, the region, as a whole, is better 
suited for grazing than for other branches of husbandry. 
Extensive forests of Yellow Pine exist in the mountains, both in the 
western part of the county and in the Manzano Range to the eastward. 
In the last named district the estimated forest area is 280 square miles, 
three-fourths of which bears good timber. Saw logs obtained here are 
from 2 to 4 feet in diameter. At lower altitudes Pifion, Cedar, and 
White and Scrub Oak abound. 


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