GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY OF THE TEEEITOEIES. 263 



Eange, near the origin of Prickly Pear Greet. The North Boulder 

 runs along the western base of the ridge, through a valley of moderate 

 width, while west of it runs another ridge separating its waters from 

 those of White-Tail Deer Creek. These ridges are clothed with pine 

 timber of an excellent quality. And along some of the slopes the rank 

 vegetation indicates a greater degree of moisture than is usual in this 

 region, especially on the divide which separates the Boulder from Prickly 

 Pear Valley. I noticed here the marks of a recent heavy rain, vv^hich 

 had caused sudden torrents to rush down the indentations of the ridge 

 which flanked the valley, tearing up the grass and pebbles and bearing 

 them down to the base. Branching off from the first-mentioned ridge, 

 near the center of Jefferson County, starts another ridge, which, running 

 north, forms a divide between the Prickly Pear and the Missouri. 



Prickly Pear, and Ten-Mile Creek, its principal tributary, have very 

 pretty valleys, which, though irregular and contracted at some iDo-ints 

 by the approaching ridges, at others expand into broad, open prairies, 

 having surfaces as smooth as a meadow. One of these beautiful, 

 meadow-like openings is in the vicinity of Helena, across which one 

 may look from the city and see the noted landmark repeatedly men- 

 tioned from the days of Lewis and Clarke down to the present time — 

 the Bear's Teeth. This valley is from five to fifteen miles wide, and 

 some twenty or twenty-five miles long. Although rich and i)roductive, 

 unfortunately the stream which traverses it only furnishes water suffi- 

 cient to irrigate a part of it. ,A proposition has been made to bring 

 water from Jeiferson Eiver, which is said to be i)racticable j but whether 

 this will be carried out or not I am unable to say. The proximity to 

 the chief city of the Territory would certainly render the land valuable, 

 and such a canal Avould be useful not only for irrigation but also in con- 

 nection with the mining operations. 



Major J. F. Forbes, who has been farming in this valley since 1865, 

 and has made the raisiug of vegetables for the city somewhat a spe- 

 cialty, furnishes the following information in regard to its productions : 

 ^' Wheat, after the first few crops (wtfich are generally heavy) have 

 been cut, yields from 20 to 40 bushels to the acre, though as high as 82 

 bushels have been taken from one acre; and entire crops have averaged 

 52 bushels on fresh soil. One difficulty experienced is, that volunteer 

 crops mix with those that follow ; this does no damage when feed- 

 crops, as oats and barley, are raised ; but when wheat follows other 

 crops the mixture injures its value. And it may be set down as a 

 rule, with but few excei)tions, that volunteer crops are, in the long run, 

 an injury to any section. If these do no other injury they beget a thrift- 

 less system of farming, under which the soil is deteriorated^ and the yield 

 becomes less and less and the quality inferior." 



Major Forbes says that the weight is usually about 60 pounds to the 

 measured bushel. The average yield of oats is about 40 bushels to the 

 acre; barley, 30; but the yield of the latter crop often is as great as 

 that of oats. The foUowiug vegetables grow well, no difficulty from the 

 climate being experienced in raising them : Potatoes, turnips, ruta-bagas, 

 beets, cabbage, carrots, onions, iDarsnips, pease, beans, and radishes. 

 Tomatoes can be grown with care, but are liable to be injured by the 

 frost before maturing. Spring- wheat is generally sown in March, and 

 sometimes even as early as the last of February, which is certainly very- 

 early for this latitude ; but even as late as May will answer. Harvest 

 usually commences in the latter part of July. When winter-wheat is 

 sown, it is usually put in in September and October; but it generally 

 comes out too soon in the spring, and is liable to be bitten by the frost after 



