152 



BOTANY. 



The collection of recent plants from the upper Missouri is very 

 large and numerous in species. Comparatively few of them have 

 been determined and their names presented in this list. The complete 

 catalogue, with the necessary remarks and descriptions of new species, 

 will appear in the final report. 



The vegetation of Kansas and the southern and southeastern 

 portions of Nebraska is luxuriant in the highest degree. The broad 

 bottom prairies of the Missouri, from Council Blutfs to the mouth of 

 the Niobrara, are of inexhaustible fertility, sustaining a vegetation 

 variable in its character and of enormous growth. The upland prairies 

 possess a soil composed of yellow marl, well adapted to agriculture 

 and grazing. All that portion of Nebraska which borders upon the 

 Missouri, for one hundred to one hundred and fifty miles into the 

 interior, is already settled to a great extent, and the traveller sees in 

 prospective many of the finest farms in the west. The beautiful valley 

 of the Platte cannot be surpassed for fertility of soil and the variety 

 and luxuriance of its vegetation. Scarcely a section of land can be 

 seen at the present time that is not already occupied by the courageous 

 and persevering pioneer, and made to yield most abundant crops. 

 Sufiicient timber occurs along the banks of ravines and streams for all 

 economical purposes. After passing above latitude 43°, the soil 

 becomes less fertile, climate much drier, and vegetation less luxuriant. 

 The whole countr}^, though well adapted for the purposes of pasturage, 

 is not well suited for agriculture, except in comparatively few localities. 

 There is very little timber but that which skirts the streams, and 

 consists for the most part of cottonwood, elm, ash, and box wood. 

 Reaching the mountains, as the Bear's Paw, Snowy, Girdle, Black 

 hills, or Laramie hills, an inexhaustible supply of pine timber is 

 found, with many other varieties of trees common to the northern 

 regions. The numerous broad valleys in the Black hills possess a very 

 fertile soil and abound in springs of pure water, and the time cannot 

 be far distant when this region as well as the country around Fort 

 Laramie will be settled by a thriving population, and the vast forests 

 of pine rendered serviceable to the Avants of man. 



That there is a marked improvement in the character of the country 

 as we approach the mountains has already been noticed in published 

 reports. The valley of the Yellowstone river, after passing the 

 mouth of the Big Horn, is spoken of by both traders and Indians as 

 quite fertile, abounding with excellent timber, fine clear springs of 

 water, and a luxuriant vegetation. The Crows who now possess this 

 region regard it as the finest country in the world. The immense 

 beds of gypsum, of the Jurassic formation, along the eastern slope 

 of the Rocky mountains, some of wliich are twenty feet in thickness, 

 Avould furnish an inexhaustible supply of that excellent fertilizer. 



Much might be said in regard to the influence of soil, climate, 

 geological structure, &c., upon the vegetation of the upper Missouri, 

 as well as the geographical distribution of species; but time will not 



