12 BOTANY. 



abundant evidence that, if the climate were not too rigorous, under irriga- 

 tion this same soil would raise fair crops. The smaller valleys leading 

 down from the mountains on either side and intersecting the main valley 

 at right angles all produced abundance of bunch-grass, though not so luxu- 

 riantly as South Park. In crossing into this valley from South Park, we 

 had made a descent of some 400 feet, and found as a rule a climate pro- 

 portionately more genial. At Twin Lakes, potatoes grew large enough to 

 be eaten before the early frosts destroyed the tops. It is not improbable 

 that some of the hardier grains might be raised at this point. By Septem- 

 ber, the yellow leaves on the cottonwood-trees along the mountain slopes 

 indicated plainly enough that we had reached the limit of the " growing- 

 season" there. 



Reports reached us of fertile valleys with abundant pasturage west of 

 Twin Lakes. 



The first fairly good farm we saw after leaving Denver was that of Mr. 

 Lenhardi, on the Arkansas, twelve miles below Granite, August 27. We 

 found that Mr. Lenhardi had just finished his harvest. He had a good crop 

 of oats, barley, and potatoes. He admitted, however, that his success was 

 earned by continuous irrigation through several months. Below him were 

 several other ranches equally good. So narrow was the belt of fertile land 

 that the ranches were often over a mile long, and hence, to include the legal 

 one hundred and sixty acres, could not have been wide at any point. 



Following down this valley, we saw the first flouring mill at Chalk 

 Creek. It was probably the best indication that we were not far from the 

 northern limit of successful cultivation of the ordinary cereals. 



Leaving the Arkansas Valley at McPherson's ranch, we crossed the 

 Saguache Mountains via the Puncho Pass, which is reported as 8,600 feet 

 high. It is probably somewhat over this estimate, though still far below 

 timber-line. South of us lay San Luis Valley, concerning the agricultural 

 value of which there are so many contradictory reports. Settlers in the 

 valley are loud in its praise ; others are, as a rule, loudest in their disparage- 

 ment of it. It may be premised that snow seldom falls to any depth, or lies 

 long on the ground. These conflicting reports probably find their solution 

 in the fact that the most important roads over which by far the largest share 



