/SEP. 1902 



Sample copy free— piease-stibscribe. 



The West American Scientist 



VoL XII. No. 73. .June, igoz. Whole No. ii4 



INTO MEXICO WITH THE EDITOR, quite trees give promise of being in 

 reality what they are in name — trees. 



Gleanings from private letters of the As we reach the valley of Mexico we 



editor-in-chief who is three thou-av:d find ourselves in a region of broad cul- 



miles away, will assist us in a brief tivated fields, dry, much like Califor- 



trip into Mexico. There are many nia in aspect. The train winds around 



things of interest to be noticed on our low hills, up, up. A reservoir of water 



way. Perhaps first of note to the with green fields of corn beneath its 



speed-loving American is the time the influence, and thousands of acres of 



trip requires. Eight years ago, from maguey fie'lds — a curse to Mexico; stone 



El Paso to Mexico City, required four walls, tiled roofs, cathedral towns, the 



days. Now we can accomplish the wooden plow, thirteen modern houses 



same in little more' than half that time (huts of cast-off corrugated iron), big 



— two and one-half days. hats on barefooted and on sandaled 



Outside our car window as we leave men, a eucalyptus tree among the cac- 



El Paso, we see only grassy plains and ti; such are some of the sights as the 



sand hills. Mesquite trees are in leaf landscape speeds behind, 

 and form the chief verdure of the coun- Mexico City is reached at last. It 



try. The Living Rock cactus is found has grown remarkably since a visit 



on the hills in this vicinity, but very eight years ago and is destined to be 



difficult to distinguish as it is so iden- larger still. No vacant lots in the city, 



tical in color with the r^cks on which Solid stone and other evidences ofgreat 



it grows. Agaves abound in the moun- wealth displayed— and of great poverty, 



tains, one of these, a bulbous variety, as well. 500,000 people are living here, 



is especially beautiful. it is said. They are people of all sorts. 



Further south we pass fields of young The free music and plaza promenade in 



cotton plants. Yuccas are used for one of the nearby towns brings them 



fence posts. Everything is dry— a dee- all out in their best. Among them 



ert. In some parts of the trip the mes- some are very pretty, white, barehead- 



