ENDLicH.] VEGETATION. 69 



ridges we fiud sage brush {Artemisia Ludoviciana) covering the ground. 

 Greasewood {Sarcohatus vermiculatus), growing most luxuriantly in the 

 dry valleys, is interspersed throughout. In the moist valleys willows 

 {Salix nigra) occur in dense masses ,ofteu very effectually blocking the 

 passage of a pack-train. Small trees, bearing the buffalo berry {^hepardia 

 argentea) and service-berry bushes {Amelanchier alnifolia) are found 

 together with them. These latter may serve as a hypsometric guide, 

 occurring in that latitude rarely above 7,000 feet elevation. Another 

 tree that may be utilized in the same way is the quaking asp {PopiUus 

 tremuloides). It was noticed that this tree, as is the case with all 

 SaliccB, is mostly found near moist places, and it is frequently, there- 

 fore, regarded as indicating the presence of water. In this we were 

 often mistaken, however, but found that where it grew in dry (tempo- 

 rarily so) places, it invariably selected the northern or northwestern slope 

 of a valley or caiion. Two circumstances combine to render these expo- 

 sures more favorable to the reception and retention of moisture, the 

 prevailing vapid winds and the absence of sunshine during a considera- 

 ble portion of the day. Quaking-asp sets in at an elevation of about 

 7,500 feet above sea-level. In the larger river-valley groves of cotton- 

 wood [Populus halsatnifera) afford excellent camping places. They grow 

 to considerable height, and the bottom of the groves is generally free 

 from underbrush. All the low bluffs and ridges are covered with pinon 

 {Pinus edulis) and juniper {Juniperus communis). The former bears small 

 nuts in its cones, which are collected by the Indians, and serve as food, 

 either raw or roasted. Neither of these two trees grows to any consid- 

 erable height, but remains small, with strong, brittle limbs. At about 

 the same elevation yellow pine {Pinus ponderosa) occurs in our district, 

 though sparingly. Higher the white pine {Abies Engelmauni) is found, 

 mostly only in some of the gulches and ravines leading down from the 

 summit of the Book Cliffs. 



Very little tall timber occurs in the district, owing, no doubt, to the 

 comparatively small supply of water. During the time occupied by our 

 work in that region we had very little rain, and in all probability the 

 season was, in that respect, not an exceptional one. Snow during the 

 winter, beginning early and lasting long, supplies in a great measure 

 the moisture for a large portion of the area, which during the summer 

 receives none except that from dew and occasional rain. 



It seems improbable that any section of that region should ever be 

 settled, excepting the broad valleys along White River. There, by 

 means of irrigation, fair crops may be raised, that will repay the labor 

 bestowed upon them. Mr. Danforth, Indian agent at the White Eiver 

 Agency, has made some very successful attempts at raising wheat, oats, 

 potatoes, and other vegetables. By demonstrating to his Ute Indians 

 the benefits derived from a comparatively small amount of labor, he 

 has induced a number of them to follow his example. They have ob- 

 tained very satisfactory results, and were, at the time of our visit, well 

 pleased with the experiment. On the ridges leading to the summit of 

 the plateau and along the watered valleys there is good grazing, and 

 those portions would answer well as a summer-range. Before the com- 

 pletion of the transcontinental railroad a wagon-road was projected and 

 partly completed, following down the White and from the Green Eiver 

 westward, extending to California. It is known as Berthoud's wagon- 

 road. The building of the railroad, however, made an overland wagon- 

 route superfluous, and the work was dropped. Game seems to be abun- 

 dant in the higher portions of the district, but is very shy. 



