20J^ MONTANA J9U 



Forests grow wihere the climatic conditions are most favorable, on the 

 northwestern slope, and there the precipitation is from 15 to 25 inches or 

 more. There are 18 federal reserves in Montana, or about 20,000,000 acres 

 in forest reserves, one-fifth of the area of the entire state. 

 Among the The kinds of timber which are most prevalent are western 

 Giants of pine, fir and larch, the larch predominating. 



These West- Larch (larix occidentals), or western larch, grows in the 



ern Woods, greatest degree of perfection on the western slopes of the 

 main range of the Rockies and in the foothills adjacent thereto 

 and the zone Avhere the greatest annual precipitation prevails, assuring more 

 plant life. Larch is not an evergreen btit is a deciduous tree, shedding its 

 needles in the autumn. The finest stands of the species occur in Flathead, 

 Lincoln and Missoula counties and cut the highest percentage of clears. 



Western larch, as found in ^Montana, is the largest and most valuable 

 of all the larches. Its size. form, and clearness makes this wood one of the 

 most valuable trees on the continent ; authorities agree on this point. It 

 attains the largest size in ^NFontana. where it occasionally reaches a height 

 of 170 to 180 feet and a diameter up to four feet. It usually remains 150 

 years or more before the decav, incident to old age, sets in. In strength 

 and elasticity it measures up with the best classes of hardwoods and soft- 

 woods. In color it resembles cherry and express, and is of a fine, satiny 

 grain, susceptible to a fine polish. It takes stain perfectly, looks rich w'hen 

 finished in the natural, and takes paint equally as well, as it contains no 

 rosin, and is appreciated when a fine interior is desired. It resembles in 

 appearance Circassian walnut. It is a semi-hardwood, and is not nearly as 

 susceptible to atmospheric influences as many other woods, therefore does 

 not check, warp or twist as badly as other woods. The larch trees are 

 fairly free from insects and fungus enemies. 



Larch can almost be considered a "wood everlasting," as it is exceed- 

 inglv durable and resists decav unusuallv well. The United States test, 

 taken at the time of the United States census of 1910, showed larch to be 

 the strongest, toughest and hardest of all northern American conifers. 



We have gone through the j^eriod of exploration and now we are 

 giving thought to conservation and re-forestration ; next will be considered 

 utilization, then we will more fully realize the value of the forest and its 

 by-products. .Some of these might be named ; paving blocks, 

 The Mines wood novelties, tanbark. pulp for paper, wood alcohol, creosote. 

 Use Train tar, charcoal, turpentine, furniture. At the present time no use 

 Loads of is made of by-products ; the}^ are wasted. Whole train loads 

 Lumber of lumber are used daily in the mines of Butte, in the shafts 



Daily. for general timbering, supplied from ^Montana forests. 



Fir is found to be very desirable for underground work 

 in the mines, as it has a resistance to the chemical action of the copperas 

 acids, while the yellow pine is used for general structural building ma- 

 terial. It is also used quite extensively in the manufacture of sash and 

 doors. 



AMiile we are reviewing, briefly, the resources of Montana, and espe- 

 cially our forests and the wonderful growlth and development of this State, 

 we recall the lines : 



"Men look to the East, for the dawning things 



For the light of the rising sun ; 

 But they look to the West, to the Crimson West, 

 _ For the things that are done, are done!" 



— Montana seed is demanded by the best farmers the world over. 



