Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-09-03
THE PAMPAS.

IhE IAMTASs
The peculiarities of these vast plains,
which descend from the Andes to the great
river basin in unbroken mOnotony, are the
absence of rivers or water stotage, and the
periodical occurrence of droughts, or "siccos,' y
in the summer months. These conditions
determine the singular character OF its flora
and fauna. The soil is naturally fertile and
fayoroble for the growth of trees, and they
grow luxuriantly whenever they are pro-
tected. The eucalyptus is covering large
tracts wherever it is enclosed, and willows,
popars and the fig surround every estancia
when fenced in. The open plains are cover,
ed with droves of horses and cattle, and
overrun by numberless wild rodents, the
original tenents of the pampas. During the
long periods of drought which are so great
scourge to the country, these animals are
starved by thousands, destroying, in their
efforts to live, every vestige of vegetation.
In one of these droughts, at the time OF my
visit. no less than fifty thousand head of OK
eu and sheep and horses perished from star
walton and thirst, after tearing deep out OF
the soil every trace of vegetation, including
the wiry roots of the pampas grass.
Under such circumstances the existence OF
an unprotected tree is impossible. The on
ly plants that hold their own, in addition to
the ipdestructible thistles, grasses and clo-
yer, are little herbaceous oxalis, produc-
ing viviparious buds of extraordinary Vi
tality, few poisonous species, such as hem
lock, few tough, thorny, dwarf acaciass
and wiry rushes, which even starving rat
refuses. Although the cattle are a modern
introduction, the numberless indigenous
rodents must always have effectually pre-
vented the introduction of any other spe-
ces of plants; large tracts are still honey
coined by the ubiquitous biscacho, gigan-
tic rabbit and numerous other rodents still
exist, excluding rats and mice, pampas
hares and the great nutria and carpincho
on the river banks. That the dearth of
plants is not due to the unsuitability of
the subtropical species of the zones cannot
hold good with respect to the fertile valleys
of the Andes beyond MenZona, where a
magnificent hardy fora is found. Moreover,
the EXTENSIVE introducing of European
plants which has taken throughout the c0un-
try has added nothing to the botany of the
assailable by cattle, such as the two species
of thistles that are invading large districts
in spite of their constant destruction by the
fires which always accompany the slccos.
THE LIQUOR LAWS OF ALL THE STATES.
A special effort was made to obtain state
ment of the methods adopted in the several
States and Territories of the Union in deal
ing with the liquor question, and answers
were received from the several secretaries OF
State as follows:
Ironclad prohibition States with constitu-
tional provision against the manufacture
and sale of Intoxicating liquors: Vermont,
Maine, Iowa, and Kansas.
Prohibition State, but no constitutional
provision New Hampshire.
in yubirh prohi hifiOn has hppn tried
but either for lack of success or change in
public sentiment, changed to milder meth
ods: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Indiana,
Michigan and Wisconsin,.
States and Territories having general and
stringent license or "local option laws:
Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania,
West Virginia, South Carolina, Arkansas
Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, Dakota and
Washington-11.
States allowing "local option" by special
act of the legislature: North Carolina, Geor'
gia, Alabama and Mississippi 4.
States and Territories having no general
laws and where no special attention has been
given to the subject: New Jersey, Mary
land, Virginia, Louisiana, Kentucky, Ohio,
Missouri, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, Mon
tana, New Mexico, Wyoming and Utah-14
States and Territories from which we
have been unable to obtain replies Flori'
da, Texas, Tennessee, California, Oregon,
Idaho and Utah.. Total 46.
The unique position occupied by Ohio
compelled us to classify this State as we
have, though it can hardly be said that no
special attention has been paid to the sub
iect of temperance in Ohio, especially of
late years. philadelphia Press.
STRONG DRINK MAKES WEAK.-StrOng
drink is, in sense, the weakest Of all drinks