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the Cottonwood and willow, and some of tliera produce rank growths 

 of the wild sage. 



The absence of trees on all the prairie regions is another evidence 

 of the dryness of the climate, and even in places where they can grow, 

 as in the ravines, the excessive cold of the winter winds prevent them 

 from reaching their full development, as is proved by the dead tops 

 of nearly all the trees which extend their branches above the level of 

 the prairie. The prairie fires have done much towards preventing 

 the growth of trees in places adapted to them, but it is not a sufficient 

 cause to account for the general absence of forests. 



An interesting instance of the effect of climate on the growth of 

 trees is to be seen in the cedar as you ascend the Missouri. At the 

 first Cedar island, in latitude 43, these trees grow in the bottom lands 

 of the river, and are large and straight, those growing on the bluffs 

 being of an inferior quality. 



The cedars diminish as you ascend, and the last of these in any num- 

 ber together is to be seen in the blufis opposite the mouth of the Little 

 Shyenne^ in about latitude 45, and here they are exceedingly crooked 

 and twisted. Along the Missouri and Yellowstone, in the lignite 

 tertiar}' formation, we find the cedar unable to support itself above the 

 ground, and, spreading itself over the surface, presents the appearance 

 on the hill sides of grass or mo8S. 



During the time I have been in Nebraska I have found everywhere 

 an abundance of grass, except in places near the posts and others, 

 where it had been eaten off" by the buffalo. 



A considerable quantity of a small variety of corn is raised by the 

 Mandans, Eees, and Gros Ventres, near the 47th parallel, on the Mis- 

 souri, and it is probable that this corn can be raised along the base of 

 mountains as far north as the 46th parallel. The entire mountain 

 section of Nebraska will produce good wheat, where the land can be ir- 

 rigated, and the abundance of grass for pasturage will permit of the 

 raising of immense herds of stock. 



This western portion of Nebraska may, therefore, in the future be 

 valuable for occupation for a people partly engaged in agriculture, but 

 relying mainly upon the raising of stock. 



Many valuable inferences in regard to the climate may be drawn 

 from an examination of the catalogue of plants growing in Nebraska, 

 prepared by Dr. Hayden, and appended to this report. 



It is my intention to give tables of the meteorological observations 

 in a subsequent report. These, besides the indication they afford of 

 the climate of Nebraska, will be useful in aiding the determinations of 

 the progress and limits of storms over large areas in connexion with 

 extensive investigations on this subject carried on by the Smithsonian 

 Institution, under the direction of Professor Henry. 



The thunder storms, so far as we have observed them, have a great 

 uniformity. The day after one has passed over is generally cold, with 

 a light north wind and high state of the barometer. This condition 

 lasts from one to three days, when the wind changes to the south and 

 gradually increases in force during the day, and sometimes falling al- 

 most to a calm at night. The barometer falls during the time, and 

 cumulus clouds besrin to form. After the south wind has blown three 



