Photo by J. E. Kirkwood 



IvECHUGUIIXA PLANTS (THOSE HAVING NARROW LEAVES ) AND CACTUS ON THE 



HACIENDA DE CEDROS 



This and page 567 show the typical vegetation of the region. The lechuguilla is about 

 18 inches high. "Two kinds of fiber are produced in large quantities. One is from the leaves 

 of a yucca-like tree commonly called by the natives palma, and the other goes usually by the 

 name lechuguilla, and is derived from a small relative of the century plant, exceedingly 

 abundant throughout the northern half of the Republic. The fiber is soft, pliable, and strong 

 and is much used for cordage, matting, bags, etc. Some of the fiber is manufactured locally, 

 but the most of it finds a market in New York and other foreign ports" (see text, page 577). 



wine and aguardiente, a kind of brandy, 

 being the chief prodncts. 



From the wine cellar one may enter 

 the garden pertaining to the casa grande. 

 This garden, about 40 acres in extent, is 

 surrounded by an adobe wall 10 feet in 

 height, forbidding entrance to those not 

 of the casa. Given somewhat to arbors 

 in the vicinity of the house and to walks 

 roughly paved with cobblestones, where 

 are also fig and pomegranate trees, cot- 

 tonwoods and pecans, the larger part of 

 this extensive garden was formerly util- 

 ized in the growing of grapes. 



MOVING A GARDEN 



We are told that the earth of this gar- 

 den is not its original soil, but was carted 

 onto the area to provide the necessary 

 conditions for the growing of crops, and 

 the story has at least the appearance of 

 truth, inasmuch as the soil within is dif- 

 ferent from that immediately without the 



garden wall and resembles the alluvium 

 of the plain below. This light and dusty 

 soil is heaped into ridges inclosing small 

 areas for the purpose of irrigation, made 

 possible by the presence of a small stream 

 which enters the inclosure and supplies 

 a small reservoir surrounded by tall canes. 

 The overflow from this tank never goes 

 very far, but is quickly absorbed by the 

 thirsty ground ; only when the gate is 

 opened does the stream suffice to reach 

 the most remote limits of the vineyard. 



Following one of the rudely paved 

 walks leading from the casa, one descends 

 a gentle slope to a high-walled inclosure. 

 A low gate, swinging on rusty hinges, 

 admits to a wide hall extending to right 

 and left, from which, opposite the en- 

 trance, steps lead down to a large bath. 

 Through an arched portal at the foot of 

 the steps one may pass out into 5 or 6 

 feet of water in a pool about 30 by 50 

 feet. A ledge 2 or 3 feet wide surrounds 



5/0 



