once covered with a growth of large Mesquit, only dead trees now 
remain, apparently indicating the lowering of the water-table. The 
river beds of both the Salton and New rivers are covered with a 
dense growth of vigorous Mesquit, and the latter also contains 
large Cottonwoods ( Populus ) and Willows ( Salix ), which gradually 
disappear at the lower end, or are represented by dead trees, indicat¬ 
ing that the ground-water is no longer within reach. 
Wild Heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum , L.), locally and 
most inappropriately called " Chinese Pusley, 77 makes a rank and 
luxuriant growth on the banks of canals and ditches where there is a 
perceptible efflorescence of salts. It does not occur except where the 
soil is moist. 
Salt-grass, Arrowweed, and Mesquit may therefore be taken as 
good indications of the proximity of the ground-water; Salt-grass 
indicating surface moisture, Arrowweed indicating water anywhere 
from the surface to twenty feet, and Mesquit indicating water from 
twenty feet down to an, at present, unknown depth. It would be of 
considerable interest, and perhaps of some practical value, to find out 
exactly how far the Mesquit can penetrate in search of ground-water. 
This could probably be determined with very close accuracy, as it 
appears that the lowering of the water-table below an, at present, 
uncertain point, results in the death of the trees over large areas. 
CHEMICAL CONDITION OF THE SOIL. 
The chemical condition of the soil has a much more marked 
influence than the physical on the vegetation. This is clearly demon¬ 
strated by the distribution of the various ""alkali weeds’ 7 which occur 
in equal abundance and luxuriance on all soils in which alkali occurs, 
from the light "blow-away 77 dune sands up to the heaviest clays. 
THE CREOSOTE LANDS. 
The best soils of the region from the culture stand point, i. e. y 
those freest from alkali and of a loam}- texture—are characterized 
by a luxuriant growth of the bush locally called " Greasewood, 77 but 
better known as Creosote bush ( Larreci tridentata) . The use of the 
name " Greasewood 77 should be dropped in connection with this plant, 
as it is more generally and more correctly used to designate one of 
the most alkali-indicative plants of Utah, Nevada and Northeastern 
California ( Sarcobatus vermiculaius) , which is not found in the 
Salton Basin. The name "Creosote-bush 77 is thoroughly distinctive, 
and will not lead to the supposition that this shrub indicates the 
presence of alkali, which is not the case. As a rule, the Creosote- 
bush prefers a light, sandy or gravelly soil, well-drained and almost 
free from alkali; it is not an alkali plant, and usually grows well 
