102 LANDS OF THE ARID REGION OF THE UNITED STATES. 
soft and spongy, from which circumstance it is locally known as 
“Pumpkin pine”, but the more appropriate name of “ White balsam” is 
also applied to distinguish it from A. concolor, which is called ‘Black 
balsam”. This species grows high up on the mountains and_ plateaus, 
generally from nine to eleven thousand feet. It is very tall, often attain- 
ing a height of 80 or 90 feet. Its trunk is straight and limbless for a great 
distance. This species has been but little known to botanists heretofore, 
from the fact that it has been confounded with 4. grandis, but Mr. Engel- 
mann decides, from specimens collected by Mr. L. F. Ward, that it must be 
considered as a new species. 
Abies amabilis and Abies grandis, spruces resembling the ‘‘ White balsam” 
in their general appearance, occur in the Wasatch Mountains, but are not 
abundant. 
Juniperus Californicus, var. Utahensis, or White cedar, is very abun- 
dant over the foot hills and lower mountain slopes, and, like the pinon pine, 
is much used for fire wood. It has also the characteristic durability of the 
junipers, and makes excellent fence posts. It grows low, is diffusely 
branched, and is valueless for milling purposes. 
Juniperus Virginiana, or Red cedar, is also found in this region. — Its 
habitat is near the streams and at moderate altitudes. It is said to lack 
the durable qualities for which it is noted at the east, and which seem to be 
transferred to the other species. 
Populus angustifolia, or Cottonwood, is the chief representative of the 
poplar family in this region. The people of the country distinguish two 
varieties or species, the Black cottonwood and Yellow cottonwood. The 
former is said to be useless for lumber, while the latter has some slight 
value. It forms no part of the forest proper, but fringes the lower reaches 
of the streams, rarely occurring higher in altitude than 6,000 feet. Its rapid 
growth and its proximity to the irrigable lands make it valuable for fuel, 
although it is not of superior quality. 
Populus monilifera, the Cottonwood of the Mississippi Valley, grows with 
the above in the southern part of the Territory, and has about the same 
value. 
Populus tremuloides, or Aspen, is found about the moist places on the 
