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Show 128 ng course down the mountains from Fort Garland to Santa Fe", it afforded opportunities for securing a valuable collection, which will undoubtedly prove extremely interesting in its bearing upon the geographical distribution of the fauna of the western mountains. In making my collections above timber- line, I received much assistance from Mr. F. O. Maxson, whose duties as topographer often required his presence at extreme altitudes. The collection of vertebrate remains obtained from the mauvaiaes terres of New Mexico is of importance, as this locality is a new field, visited but once before, by Prof. £. D. Cope. It was a matter of regret that more time could not be spent in its exploration; but being dependent upon rain for water, movements were necessarily restricted to the vicinity of a few pools which were found; and as there were but three persous in the party, the exposed condition was a subject of anxiety during the sojourn here, on account of the number of semi- hostile Indians about. It required the constant presence of one person in camp to guard the property, while the other two went out each morning and, with rifle in hand, hastily collected the petrified bones and teeth of the huge animals which once inhabited this remarkable region. I fully appreciate the efficient aid rendered by my two companions nnder many trying circumstances which occurred during an absence of six weeks from the main party, without which success would have been impossible. The geological and mineralogical collections were in charge of Mr. A. K. Conkling, who, under many difficulties, visited every mining- region passed through, and noi only made valuable collections in his specialty, but also found time to render me some assistance in the department of natural history. . The past year afforded a good opportunity to see Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico under the different conditions of a wet and dry season. The spring was said to have been the dryest ever known, and consequently the country appeared under every disadvantage. From Pueblo to the Cimarron River it was parched with the drought*; there was barely enough water in some streams for live- stock, and the crops suffered for want of irrigation, although every drop was utilized economically. New Mexico, like Colorado, is a region requiring irrigation to produce crops. Although in a favorable season indifferent crops might be raised without resorting to that process, yet no dependence should be placed entirely upon natural moisture in this peculiar climate, where the rain does not fail in the season when most required by the farmer. Agriculture on a large scale must always be precarious when the means of irrigation do not exist. Most of the natives, however, are content to eke out a bare existence by cultivating a small patch of ground with wooden ploughs, and thrashing out their grain by driving herds of sheep over it. In no part of New Mexico can auythiug approaching to eastern thrift and industry be found. The picture which the writer saw, of a thrifty field of corn in which a herd of cattle was peacefully browsing upon the tender grain while tho owners were in- doors taking their noon- day siesta, is but a type of native shiftlessness too prevalent for the common weal. The corn raised throughout New Mexico is a short, stunted kind, well adapted to a quicit growth and moderate yield. It is probably the same grain which has been cultivated on the upper Missouri River by the Indiatm since the days of Lewis and Clarke, where it is known as " Ree " corn, so called from tho fact that the Ree Indians were the first people in that, region to raise it extensively. If brought originally from Mexico or the Isthmus, its introduction to the northern tribes becomes apparent through the agency jof traders and trappers who years ago were in the custom of traveling from the Missouri region to Sante F6 to dis pose of their furs. But as it is a kind especially adapted to a cold climate, on account of us rapid growth, it might also have been first imported from the East, and be a variety of the original James River maize, considerably modified by climatic conditions. The soil of Northern New Mexico, along the eastern slope from the boundary- line south to the end of the Rocky Mountain chain, is very fertile aud easy to cultivate The entire valley of the Rio Grande is also a fertile t ract, capable of supporting ten times its present population. This comprises about all the arable iand of that region. Westward of the Rio Grande the bad- lands occur, rendering an area larger than the State of Connecticut worthless for any purpose except an ii. different grazing section during the winter- months. A short distance east of the mouutains the plains appear covered with a light alkaline soil, and, being furnished with a scanty supply of wood and water, present a very uninviting appearance to the agriculturalist. The farming- land, then, of Northern New Mexico is a narrow belt on the eastern and western skies of the main range, considerably contracted toward the mountains during the prevalence of an nuusually dry season ; and although this region is sufficiently* large to render the Territory self- supporting for all time, yet its agricultural importance will not boar comparison with other more favored Territories. Its chief wealth must always be found in the valuable grazing advantages which it affords. Th « writer has visited nearly all the Western States and Territories, and having had good opportunities for judging of their relative merits for agricultural and grazing purposes, has |
