64 ABSAEOKA DIVISION OF YELLOWSTONE F0BE8T RESERVE. 



Composition of forest in T. 5 S., R. 15 E., including trees of all species with basal diameters of 3 inches and 



Per cent. 



Limber pine 1 



Lodgepole pine 79 



White-bark pine i 2 



Yellow pine Scattered trees. 



Redflr : 1 



Subalpine fir 8 



Engelmann spruce 9 



Township 5, South, Range 16 East. 



Topography. — -This township consists of a rolling plateau region 5,000 to 6,000 

 feet in altitude, cut by numerous shallow canyons and draws, and, in the northeast 

 corner, by the valley of Stillwater River. It is intersected by low combs and 

 ridges, and with precipitous scarps along some of the larger canyons. In the 

 southwest corner are steep mountain spurs. 



Mining: — The mining is limited to a few prospects of uncertain value, located 

 in the southern areas. 



Soil. — The soil is gravelly and clayey loam. 



Agricidtural adaptability. — Wherever water for irrigation is obtainable and 

 steepness of slope or roll does not interpose obstacles the region is arable. The 

 tillable land in the township may be taken in the aggregate at 4,000 acres. 



Orazing capacity. — Outside the tillable lands the larger portion is essentially 

 a grazing area. Where not fenced the grass-producing capacity of the land is, 

 for the present, practicallj'^^ exhausted, owing to overgrazing. 



Drainage conditions. — The drainage originating on the tract is limited to small 

 springs. ' 



Towns and settlements. — Most of the agricultural lands in the central areas 

 of the township are occupied by farmers. There are no towns or villages. 



Forest conditions. — The forested lands are situated in the southern areas and 

 bear stands principally composed of sapling lodgepole pine and aspen. 



Woodlands. — Woodlands occur in small tracts throughout the township, the 

 growths consisting, on the lowlands, of willows, aspens, and cottonwoods, in thin 

 lines fringing the streams and creek bottoms, and, on the uplands, of limber pine, 

 yellow pine, and red fir as small groups, copses, and scattered trees. 



Cutting. — The tract has been culled over for fuel and fencing material; 25 to 35 

 per cent of the original stand has been taken. 



Burns. — In the southwest quarter of the township 2,000 acres, chiefly covered 

 with sapling lodgepole-pine stands, have been burned over within recent years. - 



Reproduction.— ScsLnty throughout. The burns are scarcely reforesting. 



Undergrowth. — Willows, etc., along the streams; none on the uplands. 



