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Show 129 regions for many years; fourth, that large areas, now abandoned for want of water, can be cultivated by a system of tanks which, daring the times of plenty, shall store the surplus water for fa tare use daring the critical growing times of the crops; fifth, that under the conjoined influences of agriculture and forest- culture the excessive waste of water in surface- drainage and in rapid evaporation will be lessened, thus procuring from the same rain- fall more lasting benefit; sixth, that the prevailing diseases are of less than usual fatality, and can, in many cases, be absolutely prevented or readily cured, and that these diseases will diminish in frequency and severity as the country is brought under cultivation. The immigrant mast not anticipate seeing an immense stretch of country everywhere alternating in beauty between greenswards, heavy forests, and abandance of water, like the familiar spots of the East. He must expect at present to find sterility and aridity impressing their hard lines on every feature of the landscape; bat he must also remember that Utah, so large a portion of which is now covered with fertile farms, with vineyards and orchards laden with fruit, was only a few years ago almost as unpromising as either Arizona or New Mexico now is: that it is still within the memory of man that prophets of ill- omen predicted that California, now one of the granaries of the Union, could never furnish flour enough for her own use. We may fairly expect, under the demands of our increasing population, that these waste places will be redeemed and made tributary to our civilization. Labor, here as elsewhere, will bring its reward, but acres of waving, maturing crops will not oome unearned. The general botanical results of the year's work are about 9,000 specimens of plants, representing nearly 1,000 species. Of these, so far as at present known, there are eight new species. It is probable that further investigation will bring to light more new forms in the collection. There are also a large number of species hitherto poorly represented in the various herbaria, but of which the collection of the last year contains an abundant supply. A good deal of attention has been bestowed upon the medicinal plants of the region. and an abundance of material secured to furnish analyses of the more important of them. There now remains for me but the pleasant duty of expressing my indebtedness to the offioers of the various posts at which we called during the season of 1874. We everywhere received courtesy and assistance, the more delightful because it was spontaneous and sincere on the part of those who tendered it. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. T. ROTHROCK, Acting Assistant Surgeon, F. S. A. Lieut. GEORGE M. WHEELER, Corps of Engineers, U. S. A, APPENDIX H 2. REPORT UPON THE AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES OF NORTHERN NEW MEXICO AND SOUTHERN COLORADO, WITH ANALYSES OF SOILS, PLANTS, ETC. BY DR. O. LOEW. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, GEOGRAPHICAL EXPLORATIONS AND SURVEYS WEST OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH MERIDIAN, Washington, D. C., April 22,1875. Although a great portiou of these regions will be of little use for agricultural purposes, in consequence of the limited rain- fall, which hardly exceeds 12 inches a year, there are still quite a number of sections in which agricultural and pastoral pursuits can be carried on. These fertile tracts assume importance when we consider the eager demand for the products of the fields and pastures among the mining- settlements of the mountain- regions. While the agricultural landB are almost exclusively along the streams which farnish water for the necessary irrigation, the pastoral lands occupy tbe mountain valleys at altitudes of from 7,000 to 10,000 feet. At lower elevations the grass gradually becomes poorer or is replaced by the dreary sage- brush and monotonous grease- wood, low woody bushes with but little foliage. In yet lower altitudes this vegetation disappears, the nude sand, covered occasionally with a few desert- plants, taking its place. In Southern Colorado splendid pastoral lands are found in the Wet. Mountains, where the great Wet Mountain Valley alone nourishes 20,000 head of cattle, and produces 1,200 tons of hay annually; also in the valleys of Saogre de Cristo Mountains, and their southern and most elevated extension, the Cerro Blanco, whence the Huerfano and Ute Creeks rise, the former sending its water through the Arkansas into the Mississippi, the latter through the Rio Trinchera into the Rio Grande. Otber prominent pastoral |