Francis Ernest Lloyd

“ The average plant in point of size stands two and a half to three feet in height. The numerous branches, which arise together from the soil, spread radially at an angle with its surface, and bear in their upper parts a meager foliage which, in times of drought, is olive-brown in color. ”

“ The few stout ungainly stems of these plants, and, as one may say, the weird disposition of the lesser branches, glistening in their coating of gray shining spines, produce a habit which, in the language of the advertisement, is peculiar to itself. ”

“ In the absence of leaves it is evident that the chlorophyll tissues of the stems are chiefly concerned in the food making process, which would appear true also from the fact that the smaller branches and twigs are used as green forage for horses in winter. Although a particular branch removed from the tree and regarded alone is a rather graceless object, the whole tree with its smooth green bark and gradually tapering limbs and twigs is singularly beautiful, its outline most delicate. ”

“ There is so little discomfort attendant upon the heat that it is usually quite disregarded, a condition happily due to the low relative humidity, which on many occasions during six weeks in July and August of this year ran down as low as 7 per cent. The only feature of discomfort to some persons is the intense illumination, and one may require dark glasses, although I personally found no discomfort even upon the mesa. ”

“ It is never to my knowledge found growing except in the immediate proximity of another plant, and thus often escapes detection. It is not very well supplied with spines, and might easily be destroyed by trampling if away from the company of a plant of sturdier growth. ”

“ Of these, which are more dense tree-like in form, the one known locally as the cholla [2] attracts one's attention most quickly. Its smaller branches, clothed with numerous white spines, are curiously massed into formless bunches many of the smaller joints hanging down and sooner or later breaking off. Thus collect beneath the plant piles of dejecta membra, many dead, some dying. These broken off parts may serve to propagate the plant; when seed-pods are so cast off they more likely serve this end. In the agglomerations of branches just described birds cunningly build their nests ”

“ The form of the building is in the shape of the letter L, with the longer outer elevation facing the north. The dimension and disposition of the space within are indicated upon the accompanying plan. The windows are abundant, and when open to the brisk winds allow a current of air throughout the building which makes one forget the heat. ”