110 EXPLORATION TO THE PEACE RIVER 



made nearly equal growth. After the tents were pitched, Ander- 

 son cut a quantity of wild grass for our beds which was over three 

 feet in length; it consisted principally of species of Triticum and 

 Poa. On your decision (Dr. Selwyn's) to build a canoe for the 

 ascent of Pine River, I found I would have several days at my 

 disposal, and on the morning of the 27th, accompanied by Ander- 

 son, I started up the hill in rear of the fort, for the purpose of 

 examining the region north of the river. We found the level of 

 of the country above the river valley to be about 700 feet. On 

 the plateau, the surface is either a dead level or slopes away from 

 the river. For nine miles, the distance travelled, the whole 

 country was covered with the most luxuriant vegetation. Clumps 

 of willows and poplars of various ages were interspersed with the 

 most astonishing growth of herbaceous plants I ever witnessed. 

 Willow herb, cow parsnip, Geum strictum, Triticum, Bromus, Poa 

 and a number of other tall-growing species covered the whole 

 region with a thick mass of vegetation that averaged from three 

 to five feet in height. Wild larkspur (Delphinium scopularum) 

 was found over seven feet high, and many vetches were even taller. 

 In many places, the climbing Leguminosae were in such abundance 

 as to completely cover up all other plants, and cause the country 

 to look like a field of mixed peas and vetches. The species were 

 Vicia Americana, Lathyrus venosus and ochroleucus, the first named 

 being the most abundant." 



