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As coniferous forests are the dominant form of vegetation 

 over most of the mountain landscape a word as to their composi- 

 tion may be of interest. In Montana there are five species of 

 pine: the western yellow pine which is found from British 

 America to Mexico and from the Black Hills to the coast; the 

 lodgepole pine, abundant over large areas at middle elevations; 

 the western white pine confined to the moister valleys and lower 

 slopes; and two which occupy the high mountains, the white 

 bark and limber pines. Larch or tamarack is represented by 

 two species, one only on the highest mountains and comparatively 

 rare, the other growing in northern valleys and on lower slopes 

 where it constitutes one of the valuable assets of the lumber 

 industry. Spruce also abounds at higher elevations and follows 

 down the narrow canyons almost to the open valleys. Two 

 kinds of hemlock appear in the western and more humid parts 

 of the state. One of these, the larger, is found abundantly in 

 Glacier Park and west to Oregon and \Yashington; the other, a 

 species of the higher mountains, is more restricted in its range 

 and abounds especially in the Coeur d'Alenes. Douglas fir, 

 which forms the bulk of the great forests along the Pacific 

 Coast of the northwest, is plentiful here also, but of smaller form 

 due to the drier and colder climate. The true firs are represented 

 by two species: one, the grand fir, confined to a limited range 

 in the moister localities; the other extensively distributed over 

 the higher elevations of the Rockies where it often braves the 

 rigors of an alpine climate bound in snow and ice for nine months 

 of the year. Its sharp spire-like form marks it as far as it can 

 be seen. One of our most pleasing trees is the arbor vitae which 

 in favored localities forms heavy forests so dense that sunlight 

 rarely reaches the ground beneath their spreading boughs. This 

 also is one of the west coast trees which has migrated into the 

 Rocky Mountains. A few junipers may be added to complete 

 the list. The most conspicuous of these forms small bushy 

 trees on the drier slopes. These trees are commonly known as 

 cedars and have a wide range of form and size in relation to 

 the conditions under which they grow. 



Hardwood species which constitute the main body of the 

 forests of the middle west are almost wholly absent. Along 

 the streams of the mountain region, cottonwoods and willows, 

 birch and alder, a few hawthorns and chf)ke cherries, make up 



