TRAVELLERS WILL ENJOY SCENIC BEAUTY OF MEXICO 
Travellers to Mexico City begin to realize that they are approaching the 
Tropic Zone as they travel the highway south from Laredo, Texas to Monterrey, 
Mexico. The giant Yucca australis is of outstanding interest appearing first north 
of Sabinas, Hidalgo, and continuing to north of Monterrey and then out on the 
plateau to Saltillo and its mountains. 
Scenery on the highway to Victoria is predominantly tropical of the lowlands 
—its plants including palms, bananas, avocados, 
oranges, etc. The little farm homesteads are most 
colorful and picturesque. One’s camera must be 
plentifully supplied with films to take all the 
views which appeal with the thousand and one 
appeals of Old Mexico. 
South of Monterrey, out of the lowlands into a 
rolling hilly country, thickly wooded, the observ¬ 
ing cactus hunter’s trained eye will begin to note 
Selenicereus spinulosis climbing all through the 
tops of the tall trees. What a picture it must be 
when in flower. 
A good many kilometers north of Victoria 
one begins to see Lemaireocereus pruinosus, first 
as rooted cuts planted to mark fence lines then 
very soon as big. many branched trees, as illus¬ 
trated later in this book. South of Victoria begin 
to appear the first Cephalocereus palmeri. They 
must be watched for very carefully at first if 
they are to be seen. Later in the Cuesta de Llera 
section they may be seen distinctly both close to 
the highway and high up on the steep hill sides, 
their snowy white heads shining in contrast to 
the deep green of other plant growth. 
On the Llera plateau many of the trees along 
the highway bear the orchid-like Tillandsias, four 
species or more. They look like miniature Hech- 
tias with their silvery green to deep red colorings. 
Here also are seen colonies of Acanthocereus 
pentagonus, tall trees of Nopalea dejecta, and 
brushy Opuntia scheeri, Opuntia stenopetala, 
Opuntia microdasys. 
Among the smaller species one finds are 
Echinocereus scheeri, E. blanckii, E. pentalophus 
in much stouter form than is ever found in the 
LT. S., Ancistrocactus megarhizus, Neomammil- 
laria multieeps, N. roseo-alba, N. macracantha, N. 
Candida, N. viereckii and N. pilispina; Ariocar- 
pus trigonus, Astrophytum asterias, Astrophy- 
tum myriostigma var tamaulipensis, Ferocactus 
rafaelensis and many more. 
Below Jacala the notable large Cerei include Myrtillocactus geometrizans and 
several varieties of Lemaireocereus pruinosus including queretaroensis and eburn- 
eus, Ferocactus melocactiformis and Echinocactus ingens grandis grow to sizes 
far beyond the recognition of the average cactus student. 
The many species of Hechtias, Agaves and Yuccas are of increasing interest 
the further one penetrates into Mexico. Up on the plateau above Saltillo one 
Agave is cultivated solely for production of mes¬ 
cal, which is a distilled drink. Near Victoria, 
Agave sisalina is grown for fiber production,— 
the sisal hemp. While about Mexico City im¬ 
mense acreages are devoted to cultivation of 
Agave salmiana for its production of pulque, a 
drink fermented from the juice extracted fresh 
each morning from the hearts of the big plants 
which have reached flowering stage. These plants 
are truly giants, often having a spread of over 30 
feet. 
Mexico City and much of southern Mexico 
has an elevation of over 7,000 feet and its climate 
is very different from what one associates with 
the Tropical Zone. It is temperate, dry and 
healthful with rainy season from April until 
September. Visitors at any time should carry 
warm clothing. 
The Instituto Biologia in Chapultepec Park 
extends friendly welcome at all times to botan¬ 
ists and plant students. Miss Helia Bravo, pro¬ 
fessor of botany in the National University and 
member of the staff of the Institute is a member 
of the Cactus and Succulent Society of America 
and a frequent and valued contributor to its 
magazine. 
Wonderful highways with scenery unequal¬ 
led anywhere in the world lead out in all direc¬ 
tions from Mexico City to habitats of many 
species where they may be admired and enjoyed 
as Nature planted them. 
Tourists to Mexico as they return to the 
United States, again through the port of Laredo 
will visit the Shiner Cactus Nursery and select 
collections of miniatures and seedlings of the 
giant plants which they saw standing out so 
prominently in all Mexican life and scenery. 
