Bisbee daily review., 1907-06-26
ANCIENT APPLE TREES OF OLD
 MAYZANO
Will Give Shade for a Picnic July i9 by the People of ES- tancia, N, M,, and Vicinity History of Trees,

ALBUQUERQUE. June 25.-'In the
 Shade of the old Apple Tree" will
 De the slogan of the people of Estan-
 cia and vicinity as the start for the
 Manzana Day Picnic" to be held un.
 der the venerable trees which gave
 its name to the rugged mountain
 range southwest of Albuquerque and
 the the little town that nestles on
 their eastern flank. The picnic has practically become an annual event and servesto draw attention to the re-
 markable old trees as the years roll around The Estancia News says the picnic will be held July l9. It thus narrates the story of the trees:
 It has been proposed to form an organization and establish a regular
 time for the annual out at Manzano. The native people are taking more in- terest in the old trees and ruins. since the first outing held there two years ago, and are anxious that a large number of the people, especial ly the more recent settlers in the val ley, should spend a day with them. Our native people in the mountains are not to be cutdone by any other class in hospital<y and better ac- quaintance with them will prove that they are a royal lot of people.
 The old trees now growing at Man zaho, were found bearing fruit at the advent of the native people genera tons past. The history of the trees has been traced for at least one hun dred years, and the size of the trunks, together with the appearance of the trees, will bear out the advanced age or the same. There has been some fruit almost every year, this years crop, however, having been destroyed by the extremely late frosts which have prevailed all over the country. Other places of interest in the neigh borhood are the old spring from which flows thousands of gallons of water. The real spring is on an ele- yation to the west of the town proper, where the water boils forth in i'm mense volume. From here the water again loses itself in the ground, re- appearing as spring several hundred yards to the east at a descent of more than hundred feet
 The old Torreon or fortress, stand ing just below the ancient orchard, Is of interest to delivers into antiqui- ty, It was here that the ancient Spaniards fortified themselves in de- fense from the savage Indian tribes infesting the mountain businesses of that day and age. No doubt could these old walls speak, they would be able to tell a tale the awfuIness and gruesomeness of which could not be surpassed in the annals of history.
 The old cross on the hill is said by n pE 10 stood for ages a church erected and used by the penitentes. a sect which practiced corporal flagellation as peui- tence for sin. The whip or lash used in this practice is usually woven of the roots and stems of "lechuga,o a native plant, interwoyen with the cactus. In more recent years since the Iechuga has become more scarce. wire is used in the making of the lashes to take the place of the tough lechugd. The flagellation is usually done during Holy Week, especially on Good Friday. The bodies are barred excepting waist cloth and each peni- tente lashes his back until he drops from sheer exhaustion caused by the loss of blood.
 At Punta de Agua, some six miles from Manzdna, are the ruins of the old mission of Cuara. These inn mense stone walls are still standing to height of 50 or 60 feet. Their thickness is from three 10 five feet, built of stone, laid in mortar, mixed from the native cement or "baspe." Underground passages have been traced iron. the mission for distance Of several hundred yards, which prob ably served as places of refuge in time Of attack.
 That an immense crowd will attend the picnic goes without saying. Lunches will be taken. and around the camp fires addresses and songs will enlivenAand enlighten the crowd