The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-31

EW i Ohh dERALU, -OU
the cactus and other sp.nose plants are paved with
minute fragments Of basa agate and other hard rocks.
called by the spanards sdanos extending over large
area o. country, and encircl ng ewhat might al first
sight be supposed the shores Of dried up lakes Bl:
an examination OF the sand with q microscope OF
sufficient power dspes this idea. The grains seem
to be angular and are not rounded with tn.
thus kind occurs between the Rio Colorado of
the West and the base OF the Sierra Madre,
and extends many miles along the coast OF the
Gulf of California. Another very extensive waste of
sand lies TO the south Of the Arkansas river third
Iavsraed by the Platte river aud fourth which has
the Rio Bravo, in the State OF chihuahua the road
from Fl Paso to the city Of chihuahua
The pai as or basins which have described
ring in the mountain system not the great plains of
North America which referred to so often in the
News from the Plains" Indian depredations on II
Plains &C. The plains proper Is the extensive incline
surface reaching from the base Of the Rocky houutans
to the shore Of the Iu of Mexico and the valley tho
Mississippi and they form feature in the geography o.
the Western country as notable as any other Excep.
on the borders Of the streams which traverse these
plains in their course to the valley Of the Mississippi
scarcely any thing exists deserving the name Of
sed rocks Spoed 1s a s
in thickness which composed OF the exuvia OF animals
and decayed vegetable matter. The growth them Is
principally short but nutritious grass called Buffalo
grass Lysterta dyctotodes) narrow strip Of allu-
vial soil supporting coarse grass aud few cotton wood
themselves sufficiently few and far between What
ever may be said to the contrary these plains west OF the
Tooth meridian are wholly unacceptable OF sustaining
even pastoral population until you reach sufficiently
far South to encounter the rain from thu tropics The
precise limit Of these rains am not prepared to give but
think the Red river perhaps as far north they
tend South Of that river the plains covered with
grass Of larger and more vigorous growth That which
ia most widely spread the face Of the country Is the
grawa or mezquite grass OF which there many va
reties This is incomparaby the most nutritious grass
known. South of the Rad river, also, the plains
with nutk
many varieties This tree varies in size accord
ing to the character of the soil and the quantity OF rain
II usually from fifteen to thirty feet In height crooked
gnarled, and armed with thorns The wood Is hard and
other respects fulfs many Of the economical u,es Of
fe is excellent rewood and likes good posts being
very durable II exudes gum which Is equal TO gum
araoic but to the traveller ts most Important quality Is
the fruit waich bearsa nutritious beau much reshed
by animals, and not wholly unsuted TO the tastes Of
man.
The vegetation OF the mountain and basin region while
differs materially in the germs and species OF plants
Similarity which Is striking and pecusr have ds
scrbed that of the plateau levels consisting
dmnuve growth o. shrubs but as ascend from these
to the height OF the surrounding mountains we pass
through succession OF floral products varying in char
acter according to elevation to which ascend until
80 degrees this appears the height of about 600 feet
above the In situations protected from the winds
we usually find at those heights pines and cedars and at
less elevation different varieties OF oak. Wherever
this region Is traversed by water cotton wood,
and occasionally sycamore, grow on the edges Of the
streams There are throughout this region, tho sides
of the mountains growths of PINE oak and cedar which
are quite extended, and present iroske appearance
but nowhere until begin to descend the Pacific slope
and get within the influence OF the humidity from the
ocean, do encounter timber a. all approximating in
size or luxurance Of growth the forests with which we
are familiar in the basin Of the Mississippi and the
ern slope Of the Aeghanies The Pacific sope-nclud.
ing the waters Of the Sacramento and its tributaries the
Columbia and its tributaries below the Cascade range,
and Puget Sound and its tbutares- Is not my intention
to describe in this general sketch, further than to
that ref eshed by frequent streams and ogs fom the
ocean, it presents different and In viting picture
than the country TO the east of il.
Is on this slope thar nd that strpendous gro With
OF red wood the accounts OF which appear almost IA
buous. We find here, too, In all that region north of
Monterey considerable adaptation both Ia soil and climate
to the production OF the plants About Saua Bar
bara in parallel "a deg latitude the mountains run to
the sea- thence tho coast defects sharply 10 the cast
and below or south Of this point thetrade winds which
sweep along the Pa.c coast charged with humidity for
nine months In the year from far north the Aleutan
Islands, seem to diminish in force and finally die away
al the lowest extremity Of California. Tue mountain
range at Santa Barbara cuts OF these humid winds from
the ard 10 the south OF them and 1t Is my opinion that
the Pacific slope beyond this point and until reach
the region Of the tropical rains no crops can be raised
with anything like certainty without Irrigation. Below
them the agricultural character Of tie country much
the same as that oil the mountain and basin system,
and this character Is retained along the
until reach the parallel Of Mazaan where the trop
cal rains begin be felt great force For the tou
months July, August September aud o,tober) durinS
which kept meteorological record Of Camp Riley, n
fell In sufficient quantity be measured TIE msa
height Of the barometer for that period was 20 s5s III
thermometer ts37 and the mean dur. point IS deg.
min.
There are considerable portions OF the extensive noun
tain system which have attempted to describe whers
wheat and rye be raised without irrigation; but thes
portions exceptions 10 the general rule aud think
stating that as q z, neral rule throughout th
vast region cotton and vegetables not be pro
duccd without rrgaton and, furthermore the limits OF
the ground which be brought the effects Of
irrgat very circumscrioei. The town OF 81 Paso
in lat 81 deg "a min 1871 and lon LOG deg 20 min
o54 sec Is considered and justly So one OF the gar.
ogical record was kept ut Frontera, few miles north
Of this point tor two years BY Assistant Chandler
only "a inches. From this II viii be how very dry
The climate is, and how unsuted for agricultural purpo
SEES according 10 the notions entertained OF farming In the
Eastern States. The settlements about II Psso rri
gated by the Rio Bravo, and happily not dependent
Whatever popuation may now or hereafter o,cupy the
mountain system and the plains 70 the east must be de-
pendent on mining or grazing or the cultivation Of the
PASTORAL or wine making population; aud the whole leg
isaon OF Congress- directed heretofore successfully
towards the settlement of lands States cast OF the oOh
meridian OF longitude must be remodeed and reorgsn
zed 10 suit the new phase which life must assume under
conditions 80 different from those 10 which
t,med.
PAPERS READ on AUGUST 25, 1856.
ON THE VALUE or PHYSICAL CONFORMATION A. AN EtZvgyr
OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE ny YRofESox DANIEL wnsoS,
In treating this subject Professor wilson prcfaced by
various interesting details relative to the ancient arts and
the Indications OF progressive civilization pertaining 10
very early and unquesonaby 10 ante Chrsn periods
which have been brought light the North OF Europe
He then drew q comparison between these and the
mains discovered under like circumstances the British
Isles and pointed out the great value OF SUCH opening
up to us entirely new chapters Of European and British
history altogether prior 10 those which constitute the n
tal chapters Of Ia written story. Such traces OF primitive
arts bad been the subject OF study and research In Britain
long prior 10 the present time but the nqurcrs proceed
ing on false premises and guided entirely by sew
ed IDEAS chiefly derived from too exclusively classical
education had missed the most important deductions,
which we now owe mainly 10 the Investigators Of Copcn
hagen and Stockholm. But In addition to these purely
archaeological evidences the attention OF distinguished
Scandinavian naturas had been directed 10 the osteolo
ecaI remains pertaining to the period OF Ancient
Europe and the results Of the researches OF Retzus Nils
son. and others the Continent and various jealous la
borers In the same track Of discovery In the 81 sh Isles
had disclosed the former existence Of Erupcsn dit
fcrng no less remarkably In certain features Of physical
conormaton-as shown by the bones found In ancient
graves-tban they did In the arts practiscd by
tn m, and the tools and weapons which they
employed. One special characteristics disclosed by these
ancient astrological remains q the form Of the head,
which the Professor described square In form having
diameter or n