Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-07-12
MEXICAN FORESTS, FRUITS, BIRDS, FLOWERS
ESCULENTS, CLIMATE, &c.
ron THE NATIONAL 1xrrrI1eKxcrR

In my last number drew attention the articles which
mostly considered the necessities Of produce and but
few which considered lnxues and confined myself
y to merely naming the articles and amount produced per
ninety yards square The produce of the forest ranks
commercial and necessary Importance will, then, proceed
to state the and growth Of timber in the departments
which have described Cedar red one Of the numerous
tmbes used and grown in the department and district il
abounds every where, and principally used in shpbuding,
floors, housework, &c; is so, easily worked and very
durable. "Tapote ranks next in importance | hardly
know whether to class this tree with tae fruits or simply as
useful tmber the fruit is about the size Of large apple
and delicious the forest abounds with them and thew
grow to an enormous size the timber is hard durable and
answers we'll for fencing house. shpbuildng and is SUI
peior to coal for seaming purposes Pmsno ebony hom
oak fusic are abundant; the chijol, very fine wood
which becomes pe6ed after being in very few years
in the open air buried from this wood houses
could be built that would n few years become and
last as long those built Of stone the wood in green
state, is easily worked, it is used in building wharyes
fos &c and would be very good railroad sleepers or as
plank road Onsmenta wood abound throughout the pro-
vnce IN fact the forests extensive and they afford va
ey OF useful timber many of them solid almost ron Be-
sides these, many found producing valuable gums which
would no doubt be useful both in and medicine
have here only mentioned woods which are known to be
Il
when their qualities known would be found 10 be valuable
ornamental trees medicines and spices The cocoa
and palm abound the gourd grows every where along
the margin Of the streams wild fg in fact thousands of
various and beautiful Towering shrubs and plants ornament
and adorn the forests in this favored climate Among the
medicinal plants which Indigenous this part Of Mexico
the castor bean, which grows in great abundance and
could no doubt be made profitable with but little expense
We next find the fruits in order these are all in
dgenous and Of that character peculiar tropical climates
The annona and cherymoya rank frst in order this de-
shu and healthy fruit grows to great perfection and could
no doubt be propagated in Florida and Louisiana sen.
few seeds home, which grew, snd the plant is now
under the Of Mr. Breckenridge, with others from the same
place. The alligator pear, well known as the vegetable
marrow the West Indies the pets most pleasant sweet
acid, healthy, cooling, and refreshing this fruit would no
doubt prosper wherever the Spanish bayonet grows through
out Of the Southern Sates several kinds Of zapote the
mangoe, and many fruits totally unknown beyond the limits
Of the tropics Some doubt could be proPagaed in
Of the Southern States.
The productions Of the garden equally numerous and
excellent. The esculens yucss yams, taras sweet
and common potaoes casadafour Of these are fine sub
situes for potatoes and could be grown any Of the South
en States including Maryland and Virginia BEANS many
varieties chyoe and echote two vegetables totally unknown
to us would in any Of the States south of New York
iettuces, caDDdges;
nps beets and all vegetables known us grow in great
perfection Many Of their fragrant and beautiful wers are
not only cultivated for onamen but either for preserves
vegetables Some Of these are the long gleaved machee
pumeea, and cromen egumnosea Many medicinal plants
grow in such abundance throughout this region that their
culture is not necessary among them the beam
which bears abundany. The land and air is actually IA
gued with the variety and abundance Of the vegetable king
dom the air is actually vexed and tortured with the fragrance
Of muudes Of odors from the many flowers in forest
and on plain
very much fear that my feeble efforts to describe the
floral beauties of Mexico will be total failure 1t easy
to give the dull description Of the necessities of life
but when enter within the precincts Of the floral depart
ments Of the tropics and particularly Mexico where vegeta
ton not only burdens the SOIL but seeks the air. the
bodest botanist shnks from the task with all the auxia-
ries Of science pen, and brush hand enter therefore,
the foa field, with but faint hopes odopg justice its beau
ties Here them will not be able describe individuals
but speak Of orders. Should depart from this
describe single plants, it will be solely of their
singuary, extraordinary beauty, novelty Some plants
closely united to the useful vegetable and ornamental
hora department that 10 at loss where to place them
Among these plants is the yuca alofoa (machea j its
tall spikes and delicate white aromatic fores would
first glance, place among the flowers but it is in unyer
sal vegetable and must class il among the fam
lies Of yucss Soandias thunbergeas sapeGas abound
great abundance each Of which would require the efforts
year collect The orchideau clohe every and rock
throughout the province many instances clngng
to one tree fifty hundred varieties Of these plants clasp
ing every branch, and finally topping the very summit Of
throwing out their long and delicate spikes and hang
ing gracefully with their manyated flowers sureitng
the cir with delightful fragrance. This family alone would
fill conservatory and repay for the trouble and toll Of
collection Hybiscus monendepha poyandia azalas bre
meas varegae the plains and banks with their bright coos
The echetas enwne themselves around every bush shrub
binding in bunch innumeabe light and gaudy plants MAX
ing natural bouquet of which they form the prominent
colors The banks pressed with the vines of the
Ia and the vevety foret Of the delicate coucopa petals
this sweetscented creeer fills the air with its perfume The
family of cac covers the pans forests and river banks with
their gaudy scentless flowers Many Of these bear fruits
while others used vegetables and many species feed
cattle. Few plants useful than the cacti Aca-
cias numerous several of the tribe used in tanning
and other purposes. They here in number from the
diminutive sensitive plant to the mammoth Does
want to adorn their conservatory with simply the beautiful
Seek MEXICO, for her orchedeas azaia carscalas and
thousand others equally beautiful abound. Do wish the
fragrant combined with grace and beauty Mexico furnishes
'hem-soanda plumeras caracalss, bgnonas, and many
Others which unknown to botany Every year has its
beausiesi every month new fower every day flower