Yours Sincerely

BACK COVER-"DESERT BOUQUET" BY GEORGE GEYER. The Palo Verde shown here is the Cercidium floridum or "Blue Palo Verde." The young bark of this species is a bluish green, its spines are short and the flowers a bright yellow all petals the same color. It is common in elevations of 3,500 feet or lower, flowers in April and May and sometimes from August to October, following late summer rains. This species is probably the most common in southern Arizona, where the massed yellow flowers in spring make a dazzling display. These are bushy trees, sometimes attaining a height of 30 to 40 feet and are much branched and wide spreading. In making this photograph the photographer used a Graflex View Camera, Zeiss Tessar lens, f22 at 1/5th second, 4 x 5 Kodachrome. One of the difficulties in photographing this tree in bloom is that the blossoms are so delicate the most gentle breeze stirs them, causing a blur in the picture.

YOURS SINCERELY FEBRUARY BOUQUET:

It is impossible to refrain from mentioning the fact that the February issue of ARIZONA HIGHWAYS has surpassed anything one could hope for in bringing the beauties of the desert to those who long for the outdoors and especially of the state which is fast becoming known as a scenic spot in our nation, and which has more to offer than any place in the west. In viewing February's as well as past issues, while in the midst of a bustling city. with its constant roar of trucks, trains and airplanes, all of which seem to fade in the distance as one passes through the pages of articles and colored scenes. L. E. Housman Oakland, California

GORGEOUS LANDSCAPES:

We are in receipt of our copies of the February issue with its gorgeous cover. The copies are not enough as the colorful cover will increase sales-please send 100 more at once. Had the December issue had a similar cover of flowers or scenery sales would have doubled at least. It is a fact which you may have learned by this time that covers which display persons instead of scenery simply will not sell regardless of the brilliance of reproduction; folks in Southern California seem to go for gorgeous landscapes and they will not take the trouble to open the book to examine the contents; so if you want steady and satisfactory sales put your best scenic photographs on the covers. T. Levish Pacific Distributors San Diego, California

American friends have sent us the December number of ARIZONA HIGHWAYS. AS editor of the leading nautical monthly of the Netherlands, entitled, "De Blauwe(the blue ribbon)-so as a colleague-I should like to congratulate you with the creating of ARIZONA HIGHWAYS, a typographical entirety which I think is absolutely matchless in the world. Besides the most beautiful photo-reproductions I've particularly admired the brilliant water colors of the two Navajo boys. It is a pity indeed that a highly talented artist as Edward Carl fell a victim of tuberculosis.

Wimpel."

(the blue ribbon)-so as a colleague-I should like to congratulate you with the creating of ARIZONA HIGHWAYS, a typographical entirety which I think is absolutely matchless in the world. Besides the most beautiful photo-reproductions I've particularly admired the brilliant water colors of the two Navajo boys. It is a pity indeed that a highly talented artist as Edward Carl fell a victim of tuberculosis.

Both my wife and I have visited in October 1948 a part of Arizona. We have travelled all over the world and I can assure you of all the countries, Arizona and California are by far the most impressive. P. Hofman Editor, De Blauwe Wimpel Laren, Netherlands

CONGRESSIONAL COMMENT:

For several years now, I have admired and enjoyed your fine publication. As a former editor myself, I believe it has great appeal in color, photography, stories and general format. You and your staff are to be complimented for the fine job you are doing for all Americans to enjoy. Harold C. Hagen U. S. Representative from Minnesota Washington, D. C.

CARDINAL GRAPE:

bilities. We certainly are looking forward to the day when we can resume importing fruit from the United States. William Martin & Sons, Ltd. Glasgow, Scotland Many fruit dealers through the world will learn of the Cardinal Grape when our February issue dealing with Colonel Dale Bumstead's Tal-Wi-Wi gets around through the mails.

THE SPARROWS

There's a lot of sparrows Settin' in a tree; There's a lot of sparrows Chatterin' to me. I wonder what they're sayin' Settin' in a tree; Happy little sparrows Chatterin' to me: We think That you Are just As queer As we The birds A settin' Here. Guy Frederick

SPRING IN ARIZONA

"Come, little chipmunks." Said their mother one day: "You must leave your warm nest, And run out to play: For I saw a red robin Early this mornThe springtime is here, And the sunshine warm. The big, gray squirrel That slept in the hay, Was on Mrs. Smith's porch Eating bread crumbs today: And a Steller's jay sat In a tree close by. And scolded him goodThough he didn't say why. Each little snowbird Has flown from the West To the fields of the North To build him a nest. Through the cold you have slept On your soft, earth shelf, So now you must get out And dig for yourself." -Ida Smith

MAGIC CARPET

The moon slowly unrolls its warm golden carpet of light across the desert's cold black floor. Adelaide Coker "STORM LIGHT IN THE JOSHUA FOREST" BY HUBERT A. LOWMAN. Lowman says: "I had been enjoying a beautiful day of desert photography with a yellow carpet of tiny spring flowers underfoot, huge, creamy blossom clusters on the tips of the branches of the Joshua trees and pretty clouds overhead. Almost in a matter of minutes the sky darkened and I made this exposure which caught the mood of the moment exactly as I remember it. The camera was a 4 x 5 Speed Graphic on a tripod, the exposure 1/5th second at f22. In spite of the ominous signs, it did not rain where I was and little did I care since it was a long, long way back to the road." The Joshua tree or Yucca bravifolia is a member of the Liliaceae family and belongs to the same family as the smaller yuccas ("yahcas"), the soapweed, Sotol and Spanish bayonet. It is distinctly a desert plant found at elevations from 2,000 to 5,000 feet. It occurs in eastern Arizona and in the desert regions of western California as well as in southern Nevada. It is a much branched tree, as much as 30 (rarely 50) feet high and is sometimes 2 to 4 feet in diameter at the base. Because it does not grow by putting on annual tree rings the age of the trees cannot be determined. Older specimens are probably centuries old.