July-November 1897, Botany Trip with Sargent and Canby Image 43

The way thro’ oak, Taeda and long leaf, many swamps and lagoons with taxodium; hunters of duck on train. At Mobile saw truck garden of 2 Germans, fine pecan orchard, trees 50 ft apart, 5 to 25 cents for 1b. [Nov 25]. Bought ticket home; then went to Dr. Mellichamp for 3 to 4 hrs, a charming old S Carolinan and daughter and grandchildren; he had red my book, is a botanist. Took long ride thro’ city, many beautiful homes with live o and palms. Took train at 11 P.M. Crossed river on ferry, much Taxodium to Houston and rather small scrubby oaks; soil on Brazos bottom v rich. Day rainy and cold; met man on ferry who had seen my writings, shook hands when left. [Nov 26]. As far as San Antonio rich flat ground, mostly thin hilly; light crops of cotton and corn. [Nov 27]. Nearly all Western Texas one garden or grove of Yucca lilies, grass, comps, sage between must be fine sight in flwr. Near El Paso cottonwoods on low ground along Rio Grande del Norte. Met man on train who knew the Swetts, another Robertson who knew Dr. Strentzel and me by reputation and had often been at the ranch. Muir, John M, etc. as usual. Going to bed last night saw fine snowy rangehttps://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/jmj-all/3576/thumbnail.jp