78 MONTANA EXPERIMENT STATION. 



(Ampelopsis tricuspidata), the various honeysuckles including our 

 native species (Lonicera citiosa), the bittersweet (Celastrus 

 scandens), the Aristolochia, the various species of clematis, the 

 matrimony vine (Lycittm Chinense) and even the grape should not 

 be made grow in many localities with proper care. 



4. MOUNTAINS above 5,000 feet. Curiously enough this line 

 limiting the successful growth of crops, such as wheat, oats and 

 potatoes, appears to be some 2,000 feet higher east of the Conti- 

 nental Divide than west of it in the Flathead region, although fur- 

 ther south this line of climatic stress rises till at Deer Lodge and in 

 the Bitter Root valleys it is nearly the same on both sides of 

 the range, (5,000 feet). 



There are many mining towns and camps and a number of 

 summer resorts above this line of cultivation, whn h also limits the 

 growth of most of the shade trees. Here it will be necessary to 

 fall back upon the native trees, as few introduced species can stand 

 the climate. The Balm of Gilead can be grown successfully up to 

 6,000 feet, or even to 6,800 in the mountains in the plains region. 

 The quaking asp ( Populus tremuloides) can be grown in wet situa- 

 tions up to 8,000 feet, but is best used to form groves about springs 

 or to form shelters for dwellings in the more exposed situations. 

 In the lower situations near this line the native alder (Alnus tenui- 

 folia), and birches (Betula papyrifera) and (B. occidentalis) , the 

 mountain ash (Pyrus), the native willows and the various species 

 of native pine, fir and spruce will furnish a fair variety for shade, 

 shelter and ornamentation, while the beautiful native flowering 

 clematis (Clematis Columbiana) can be made to trail over veran- 

 das, fences and shrubbery in a way that cannot be done at lower 

 altitudes, while irrigation will rarely be found necessary except on 

 the drier mountain sides. It is probable that the cut-leaved birch 

 (Betula alba laciniata) and the pendulous mountain ash, as well as 

 many of the spruce, firs and other cultivated conifers can be planted 

 successfully. 



As yet, this ornamental planting is confined largely to the 

 the cities and towns possessing water- works or an irrigation 

 system, but there are many country homes that rival these city 

 habitations; yet it is surprising to see how few houses and yards 

 even in the larger towns and cities have these beautiful 



