148 



TAOS COUNTY. 



(Area, 2,300 square miles; estimated forest area, 900 square miles.) 



This couuty is centrally situated upon the northern line of l!^ew Mexico. 

 Its eastern boundary is the Main Eocky Mountain range. The Eio 

 Grande River runs through the central part of the county, from north 

 to south. ISTumerous small streams flow from the mountains at the east- 

 ward and unite with the Kio Grande. This district is the best watered 

 of any in the Territory. The western portion of the couuty is more arid 

 than the rest, but is well fitted for grazing purposes. 



Tbe 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 j 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, 

 Pihon, and Cedar, some of the latter being quite large. Cottonwood 

 {Populus monilifera and P. angustifoUa) borders many of the streams. 



By a proper system of irrigation, at least one-half of the entire area t 

 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 Eio Grande Eiver, and at a few 

 miles west of that point it is again intersected by the Eio Puerco Eiver. 

 These two streams, and the Zuiii Eiver in the west, are the principal 

 water-courses. Portions of the county are very broken and mountain- 

 ous. The Zuiii and San Mateo Mountains at the northwest, and the 

 Manzano Mountains east of the Eio 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 f)art of the county and in the Manzano Eange 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 Pinon, Cedar, and 

 White and Scrub Oak abound. 



