PASTURES ON THE RANGE. 437 



especially southward, it is less abundant, a large por- 

 tion of the country being destitute of vegetation or 

 producing only cactus plants and sage brush, neither of 

 which are valuable as food. 



Soils of the Range Country. — The soil in the larger 

 portion of the range country is abundantly supplied 

 with plant food. Much of it is possessed of amazing 

 productive power could it only be supplied with moist- 

 ure. The secret of this fertility lies chiefly in its 

 origin. Much of it has been made by volcanic action. 

 But it has also been made more fertile, through the 

 accumulation of vegetable matter, which decayed upon 

 its surface through long ages, of which it lost but 

 little from precipitation, washing over its surface or 

 reaching down into the subsoil. To the summit of 

 the mountains, nearly a^l the soil is fertile; even the 

 shifting of sands can be made to produce liberally, 

 if kept wet by fertilizing waters. Northward, sand 

 is not nearly so much in evidence as southward. In 

 some parts, are considerable areas, so strongly impreg- 

 nated with alkali that nothing will grow on them, es- 

 pecially is this true of the regions where salt lakes 

 abound. 



Climate of the Range Country. — The climate in 

 much of the range country is dry; more dry usually 

 east of the eastern range of the Eocky mountains, than 

 elevated portions. The snow-fall is usually light also, 

 north ; and more dry in the lower valleys, than on the 

 elevated portions. The snow fall is usually light also, 

 but much of the range country is exposed to occasional 

 winter blizzards, in some instances of great severity. 



