TO THE COPPER MINES, 
199 
distance beyond the observatory or, White’s Rancho. 
The only vegetation on this barren district, is the 
mezquit chapporal, the larrea Mexicana, wild sage, 
yucca, and Spanish bayonet. In some places, are 
patches of grama grass. On the immediate banks of 
the river, are cotton-wood trees, but none elsewhere. 
All Americans who visit this district, express their 
surprise that the Mexicans, when they came out to 
intercept the march of the American army, under 
Colonel Doniphan, did not fortify this pass, and make 
a stand here, instead of facing our troops on the open 
plain at Bracito, a few miles beyond. 
A large piece of bottom land has just been ploughed 
up and put under cultivation, by Mr. Magoffin, about 
twelve miles above Frontera, the only cultivated spot 
between El Paso and Cruces, a distance of nearly fifty 
miles. The first step to be taken in bringing these' 
lands under cultivation, is to dig a large ditch from 
the river some distance above, and bring the water 
through the land. This is always kept full, and to 
make it available, the surface of the water should be 
above the level of the ground, and supported by 
embankments. When it is required for irrigating 
purposes, the bank is opened, and the water suffered 
to overflow the land. The necessary canals were here 
dug, the ground ploughed, and the seed put in ; but 
unfortunately (as I afterward heard), the river did 
not rise, the canals and ditches remained dry, no rain 
fell, and the whole crop failed. The place was then 
abandoned. Such is the uncertainty of crops in the- 
Rio Grande Valley. 
