340 Mnhlenbergia, Volume 2 



tive hay meadows, encroached upon near the borders by tongues 

 of sandy sage brush land which reach down from the surround- 

 ing ridges. Sugar Loaf Butte rises abruptly out of the valley 

 vSeveral miles east of Beckwith, its elevation above the valley 300 

 or 400 feet, and in this neighborhood is an extensive stretch of 

 sand and sage brush. 



The second day's journey took us across Sierra valley to 

 Beckwith, then northward along the road skirting the hills for 

 about three miles to where the road enters the mountains, cros- 

 sing over a divide at an elevation of 6000 feet into Red Clover 

 valley, twelve miles distant from Beckwith. 



Three full days were spent in Red Clover valley, which has 

 a general east and west trend, its length ten or twelve miles, 

 varying in width from one to about five miles, the average ele- 

 vation 5500 feet. Our camp was situated toward the eastern 

 end of the valley, and the valley itself was explored as well as 

 the near-by low ridges. The highest point reached was a ridge 

 lying parallel to the valley on the north side, the elevation 6500 

 feet. The flora there being practically the same as that of the 

 low ridges near camp, no further attempt was made to reach 

 other high points. 



The make-up of the valley is somewhat like that of Sierra 

 valley, native grasses and other moisture loving plants occupy- 

 ing the lower parts, while the more elevated ground along the 

 edges is covered with sage brush and numerous other plants 

 aifecting such situations. 



The prevailing formation is andesite, with an occasional 

 outcrop of volcanic rock. 



One of the chief plants of the meadows is a form of the spe- 

 cies listed as Trifoliiim longipes. From this plant the valley 

 perhaps takes its name, although the flower heads are more pale 

 than red. But it may be that Trifolium Bcckimthii is respon- 

 sible for the name, for a meadow at the Red Clover House at 

 the extreme western end of the valley, supports a quantity of the 

 latter species, the large heads dull crimson. 



