Arizona weekly citizen., 1888-08-11
huaro grows mostly on dry rocky hil snd gravelly messs.

Iands). Fruit known as the '-tuna" (too-nah) pesr-shsped, very seedy, some what pRlatsble. quite refreshing. full ot very smell ;horns, leaves shaped like painters psllette, about from G to & inches in diameter, covered also with thorns. There are several varieties of the tuns-some attain a height of from F to IA feet. The kind which grows in this part of the territory grow to a height of from to feet, and spreads out, covering a space some times to about F. to l6 feet in diameter.
 THE BIsSAGA
 is one of the most valuable varieties of the cscti, It IS commonlyrknovn as "the Eell of the desert" from the fact that by cutting out the centre of the plant in a bowl shape, the cavity will soon i'll with @ liquid which will quench the thirst of the prospector or traveller in the arid plains or hIlls. Its shape IS size about feet in diameter, and from to 6 feet high, body tiuted like the sahusro, but covered with larger 10 f inches-resemblin a button-hook. The Mexican people a palstsble candy of the heshy part of the bisnags, and is sold ID tue city of Tucson at cents @ cake. Fruit of this cactus IS not used as food. The oholla (chaw- w-ysh) another variety of cactus, the greatest nuisance of the thorny plants of thls peculiarly thorny territory, grows to a heIght of from 3 to B feet, trunk about inches ID diameter. and throws out several unsightly bran ches. This enemy of cattle grows on lands unfit for any other vegetation. Canes are made of this plsnt; they are quite light and full of perforstiops.
 THE ocoTILLo
 is sort of hybrid plant. mixture of the cactus and some other plant; the word ocotillo (oh-eAw-tee-yah) is the iimInutive of ooote (oh-csw-tsy) pitch pine. on account of the resinous matter in the bark. IL grows in clusters of straight poles, tspering from } inches ID circumference at the bottom 70 inches st the top to height of from l2 to l5 feet. It bears beautiful clus- Ter of red flowers, which are not unlike he woodvine flower in shape; poles overed with leaves close to the bark, and with c'ose thongh DO, very sharp .horns. Used ss a live fence.
 THE AMoLE
 ,r soap- weed grows ID this district. There are two kinds, the one the root md the other the leaf. used as a soap; .ither kind IS far superior to the best io8p tc wash woolen or silk fabrics, and superior to the best hRIr inyigorator. There are many plants noted for their ,uTative qualities all well known to the Mexioans, who generally keep en sssort- nent and use them with good results ID ! great many eases.
 THE MRzQUII
 nezquite, In the Aztec language, is the most common tree ID this section of the erIitory. IL furnishes the stock with rood feed RbOu. August and September, nd good shade from April tO November. | Nearly all the tirewOod used ID Tucson | 8 taken from this district. The tree ttRins in some places the height Of 4O | eet, bears pod very much sought by | Mexican children, who mssticste the | .eshy part O, the pod when ripe, in | Angust ard September. Mezquite (pro. (wss formerly used for wagon | imber, door-irRmes and lintels.
 PALo VERDE,
 ireen Tree, also grows here; it does not | TOW much higher than 15 feet. has harp thorns in place of leaves; its wood , used by Mexican sGddlers to msnu- scture sRddle-trees. being quite tough nd light. The willow-tree cottonwood | nd ash grow in some portions of this lstrict along the SRats Cruz river.
 Several varieties of grasses grow about ere, principally sscston and Rsyets, Hong the Rcequiss In this neighbor- ood have collected quantity of very eautiful and ornamental grasses.
 ANIMALS.
 The fox, wild cat, coyote or coyott ID le Aztec language. are perfectly at ome in the neighborhood of San .svier. flares, cotton-tail rabbits, luirrelf, gophers and rats are also quite lentiful here. An ornithologist would nd this place a perfect elysium. IL ould take great deal of my time and sversl more sheets of legal cap paper to escribe the great variety of birds which ome to charm us from early morn till usk with their songs. l will say that lere are a great many kinds; the ones 'hich attract the attention most are the Tue birds, cardinal birds, mocking Irds, woodpeckers (seversl kinds). lsrks. uBlls, different species of doves, etc. le can also spare a few snakes, lizards, nd tarantulss.
 EARTHQUAKES.
 Hud one good shaking CD Friday, May l, 1887, the first one of which We have ly record.
 All the above answers partially at ast, the questions called for In your rculsr.
 I now add few words about the 'hool progress.
 San Xavier School District was orQan- ed ID 1883, Before the district was lily established Mir. J. NJ. Berger bore le expense of maintaining a school le tune then required by law before le district was entitled 10 an spportion- ent of the school fund. First teacher nployed was Mir: Samuel E. Cover; ught school in Tomas Busiamente's ouse in New Los Resles; Berger made 'hool furniture. Present. school house ss built m November, 1884, Cover lly taught months. While he was nployed there were 12 boys and 9 girls tending school. J. E. Gsrrstt was the cond teacher employed for , months, on January to May, 1885. While he as employed the attendance was as flows: Boys. l5; girls. 10; total, 25. The third teacher employed was O. Fl llly, who is still employed, this being e third school year. Attendance in S5-6 was;-Bo's s, 42; girls, 24; total, 6S ] 1887 the attendance was follows:- Dys, 26; girls, 15; total 3l. The attend oe to the present IS ss follows, during 6 last s months:-BOys, 37; girls, 22; ! tsl, 59. The first school trustees were in 1883 e 1884. J. M. Berger, Peter Burnel and V 'se Franco. From 1884 to 1885. J, VI. srger. Mercedes Federico and Bartolo q 'snillo. From 1885 to 1886, J. Nj. Der T T, Martin Burnel. and Mercedes c 'derico. Last year the following per D ns were appointed as school trustees | Judge Sst.erwhite, viz: J. Nj. Berger O ! tbe three year term, Mercedes D dericO for two years, and Joaquin T Irnel for one year.
 Respectfully submitted. T
 CHARLEs II. FULLY. T hoolhouse, Teacher. April 29, 1888.