samorrhiza, with its yellow flowers, grows over most of 

 the range. Wherever this plant grows the soil is rich. 

 Bunch-grass grows in abundance. In the valleys, blue 

 grass (Poa) and other nutritious grasses grow rankly. On 

 the summit of Quilseeh, in June, w^ithin a few paces of 

 each other, 21 species of plants were found growing. In 

 the valleys and gulches, lupines almost shoulder high 

 were visible ever^^where. Wild geranium and Phacelia 

 indicated, by their growth, plenty of moisture. Many 

 species of water plants grew around the springs, and along 

 the creek beds. In places the vegetation is rank, in other 

 places moderate; in still others it is poor or absent. 



TIMBER. 



As has been previously stated, only a small portion of 

 the range is covered with timber. This is confined to the 

 southern slopes, and to the draws. The coniferous trees 

 are yellow pine (Pinus ponderosa) and Douglas fir 

 [Pseiidotsuga taxifolia) . There is no thick timber. The 

 trees are scattered, well branched and afford good shade. 

 Reforestation, or, more correctly speaking, the beginning 

 of foresting, is taking place in several localities. 



In several of the gulches there are dense clusters of 

 willows and alders. On the hillsides are a few scattered 

 rock maples. A scanty growth of timber is found along 

 Mission Creek, although a narrow belt has a few large 

 trees. Along the Jocko the growth is dense, with both 

 pine and fir, and a thick stand of cottonwood, alder, birch 

 and willow. As most of the timber grows on the hillsides, 

 it is on that account difficult of access. Save a few scat- 

 tering trees it is not commercially valuable. The fir trees 

 will supply a large number of posts for fencing. 



SPRINGS AND STREAMS. 



The Jocko River is the largest stream touching the 

 range. It rises in the Mission Mountains, to the southeast, 

 always has a strong flow of pure, clear water, and will 

 always afford a supply for the herd. When the reser- 

 vation is thrown open to settlement much of the present 

 flow will no doubt be consumed in irrigation, but the 



31 



