126 BULLETIN UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA 
viously mentioned extend from east to west, at right angles to the range. 
They are many miles in extent, much larger than any drift from canyons. 
A careful examination of the region north and west of Flathead lake will 
no doubt reveal glacial material on a large scale. From the trend of 
the mountain chains in that section of the state it will be interesting to 
trace this drift to its source. It is quite probable that this will be in 
the Kootenai mountains in the northern part of the state, with additions 
from the Swan and Mission ranges. 
BOTANY OF MISSION VALLEY. 
Collecting in the Mission valley is confined to the spring of the year. 
When the June rains fall almost daily the valley is a bed of flowers from 
end to end and from mountains on the east to mountains on the west. 
fhe vegetation is very characteristic. A few species of conspicuous 
flowers hold sway, and an examination of any spot after hours of walk 
will reveal almost identically the same flora over the entire distance. 
During the wet spring months the valley is a fairy land of flowers. But 
later when the rains cease the vegetation withers. The lupines are 
visible only by the stumps of stems. Balsamorrhiza sagittata, with its 
big and thick leaves, is a conspicuous feature. The leaves dry on the 
stem, and stand so thick in places that to pass through makes noise 
enough to be heard a long distance. Achillea holds its green color well, 
but it succumbs to the heat, and withers on the ground. Wild Cranesbill 
is another abundant flower, and it with the others dies. The thousands 
of heads of cattle and horses nip the grass to the roots, and the former 
beautiful valley looks brown, bleak and bare. 
The ride across Mission valley in early June, 1901, was delightful. 
Everything was at its best. Copious rains caused the vegetation to be 
profuse. While the number of species was not large the abundance of 
plants of a species was very great. Comment was frequently made on 
the beauty and abundance of the flora. Two months later the valley 
presented a brown, sun-scorched, and bleak appearance. 
In 1902 the trip across the valley was made early in July. The vege- 
tation was waning, but was still very beautiful. Most conspicuous were 
the large areas covered with Clarkia, Clarkia pulchella, Pursh. This 
beautiful flower will forever keep in memory of botanical students the 
name of its illustrious discoverer. The flower is a beautiful and delicate 
purple. The plant grows from six inches to two feet high, often spread- 
ing widely, though usually small, slender stalked, with a profusion of 
ncdding flowers. It grows on the high and dry slopes, rarely appearing 
above 4,000 feet. It is a conspicuous feature of the landscape in western 
Montana during the summer. Often it is so abundant that the purple 
patches may be seen for miles. On the trip mentioned the Clarkia was 
just at its best. Everywhere in the valley it could be seen in greater 
or less abundance and profusion. Here was a beautiful stretch covering 
several acres, growing on a gentle southern slope. Yonder were smaller 
straggling patches, lending a delicacy of color to the mass of white 
Achillea, blue Lupinus and yellow Balsamorrhiza. In whichever direc- 
tion the eye was turned the Clarkia might instantly be distinguished from‘ 
the other vegetation. In this open valley it is at its best. It is a flower 
