232 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 



Lariat and Arvada the Powder River is crossed. The water is of a 

 reddish color from the suspended matter taken from the surrounding 

 country. The valley is fairly fertile and some most productive fields 

 of grass occur. Along Clear Creek there is excellent grazing. The 

 river has its source in the Big Horn Range. In the irrigated fields of 

 this region there were splendid fields of alfalfa and timothy. Elymits 

 condensatus grew abundantly in the flood plains. One could also see, 

 here and there, a purple spiraea — S. Douglasii. Sheridan has an ele- 

 vation of 3,712 feet and is situated in the flood plain of the Big and 

 Little Goose Rivers. These streams, fed by snow from Clouds and 

 other peaks in the Big Horn Range, carry a good flow of water during 

 the entire year. Many fine farms under irrigation are found in these 

 valleys. In close proximity to the streams such shrubs as Shepherdia 

 argentea, Fraxinus viridis, Negundo aceroides, abound. On these open 

 flats we noted Cnicus iindulatus var. caiiescuns, Lepachys coliimnaris in 

 abundance. In the moister, natural meadows, Beckmatinia erucaeformi'- , 

 Bromus breviaristatus, B. Pumpellianus, Agrostis alba, and Phleum 

 pratense occur. The adjacent hills are extremely dry, but here 

 Agropyron spicatiim, Koeleria cristata, and Delphinium azureum occur. 



Farther up the stream the timber was more abundant. We noted 

 the common occurrence of Popiilus angustifolia, Prunus Americana, 

 Crataegus Douglasii. In the rich shaded woods Dodecaiheon Meadia, 

 Allium brevistylum, Brunella vulgaris and Monarda jisfulosa are 

 found. The latter was not absent in and about Sheridan but at an 

 altitude of 4,500 feet the flowers were deeply colored. Of the grasses, 

 mention may be made of such hydrophytic species as Phalaris arundi- 

 fiacea, Phragmitis vulgaris, Panicularia nervaia, and Beckmannia 

 erucaeforniis. The lilymus condensatus, large and vigorous specimens 

 along the roadsides. 



In the foot-hills there was an appreciable change in the character of 

 the vegetation. The country is marked by extremely precipitous 

 bluffs. The archaean ledges in many cases are several hundred feet 

 high. The foot-hills along the Dome Lake road are marked by con- 

 iferous and deciduous forests. The soil is a rich, tenacious red loam 

 with outcrops of limestone. The lower belt of timber is made up of 

 Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum and Pseudoisuga Douglasii which was 

 abundant in some ])laces. Thermopsis nwntana, Lupinus argophyllus, 

 Campanula rotundifolia grow in the open and denuded places. Here 

 too Agropyron spicatum and Koeleria cristata grow in quantities. The 



