i$9i.] The Flora of the St. Croix Region. 109 



tinues for several miles, but the rocks, composed of softer or 

 less, elevated materials have been worn away to a greater 

 width, and the bluffs and cliffs again recede from the river, 

 leaving a strip of flats along its banks. About two miles 

 below Taylor's Falls another canon is formed, called the 

 Lower Dalles, but it lacks the wild rapids connected with 

 the Upper Dalles. 



To clamber over the rough rocks, to climb the steep ridges 

 and the cliffs where practicable, to gather plants whose home 

 is in such haunts, while enjoying the enchanting views, is 

 delightful though wearisome work. One is also reminded that 

 he is on ground somewhat classical for the botany of the upper 

 Mississippi, since he is collecting in the footsteps of men who 

 have honored names as pioneers in botanical exploration. 

 Here Dr. Douglas Houghton collected plants in 1832, acting 

 as surgeon and botanist to the expedition of Schoolcraft to the 

 source of the Mississippi river. On its way home it explored 

 the St. Croix, passing up this stream and crossing the narrow 

 divide that separates it from the Brule or Burntwood river, down 

 which the party passed to Lake Superior. Some of the plants 

 secured in this and the preceding expedition of 1831 are listed 

 in the appendix to the narrative of the expedition to Itaska 

 lake, and are credited to the St. Croix river. The late Dr. 

 C. C. Parry, one of the members of Owen's Geological Sur- 

 vey, whose work included this region, collected here in 1848, 

 and several of the plants given in the catalogue as a part of 

 the report are from the St. Croix river, the Falls of the St. 

 Croix taking their full share. 



The time of visiting the Dalles was opportune in another re- 

 spect, as it coincided with the occurrence of a log-jam for 

 which this part of the St. Croix is noted. This had a botan- 

 ical side, and furnished matters for reflection to one at all 

 interested in the problem of forestry. To see the millions of 

 feet of logs piled several deep in the river, and bridging it 

 over a mile of its length, gave one a vivid idea of the rate of 

 destruction at which the forests of pine along the upper St. 

 Croix and its tributaries must be going on, in order to supply 

 this material. And when this mass was added to the logs of 

 numerous streams carrying their burdens to the Mississippi 

 and the Great Lakes, and to the quantities of lumber trans- 

 ported by cars and water-craft, one could but ask in despair 

 now Jong this can continue before the last stick is taken. 



