GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY OF THE TEERITOEIES. 269 



STOCK-KAISING, ETC. 



Without iujustice to any other part of the West, it may truly be said 

 of Montana that it is the best grazing section of the Eocky Mountain 

 region. Not only are the open, plains and prairies covered with rich and 

 nutritions grasses, but also the smooth hills and naked mountain slopes, 

 and the same rich carpet continues even beyond these far up into the tim- 

 ber. Wherever a fire has swept up the mountain side, destroying the pine- 

 trees, leaving the blackened stems and stumps to mark the place where the 

 forest stood, there springs up, in a marvelously short space of time, a tall, 

 green grass covering every possible spot where it can gain a foothold. 

 Here, as in other parts of the western country, as is well known, the 

 grass cures on the ground instead of rotting, remaining in this state all 

 winter, lurnishiug, in fact, a better food than if cut and cured. There 

 is seldom any difficulty experienced on account of the cold or snows of 

 winter ; many who have stock running on the prairies making no prepa- 

 ration for winter-feeding, which is seldom necessary. Even in the 

 upper part of Stinking Water Valley, where the climate is considered 

 somewliat i-igorous, not only the regular herds are wintered on the open 

 jiastures, but also cows pass this season with no other food than that 

 they clip from the grazing-field, and, although regularly milked, conie 

 out in the spring in excellent condition. At one place I saw cows which 

 had thus passed the winter on the range, giving milk the entire season, 

 yet they were in such a fine condition that they would have made excellent 

 beef; some of them gave as much as three gallons of milk morning and 

 evening, as I can testify from personal observation. Notwithstanding 

 this fact, cows command a very high price, the best bringing readily from 

 eighty to one hundred dollars 5 this, no doubt, being due to the demand 

 for stock cattle. Stock is rapidly coming into the Territory, which 

 must before very long bring down this price. Cows begin to bear very 

 young when running with the herd, it being no uncommon thing for 

 them to have calves at fifteen and sixteen months ; in fact, a few in- 

 stances have occurred where they have borne young before ceasing to 

 follow the mother. 



I have received but few statistics in regard to the herds in this Ter- 

 ritory. That of Messrs. Poindexter and Orr, on Black-Tail Deer Creek, 

 at the commencement of the present season was stated to be as follows : 

 2,467 sheep ; 1,500 lambs ; 1,500 cattle ; 750 calves ; 450 horses ; and 75 

 mules. 



CHAPTER V. 



LETTER OF PROFESSOR G. N. ALLEN. 



[The following very interesting letter from Professor G. N. Allen, in 

 regard to certain methods of irrigation in Santa Clara Yalley, Califor- 

 nia, contains so many interesting statements in such a small compass, 

 although appertaining to a section outside my field of observation, 

 that I have thought best to give it in the clear and explicit language of 

 the writer. 



C. THOMAS.] 



Professor Cyrus Thomas : 

 My Dear Sir : As promised when we parted, I give you herewith 



