56 SURVEYS OP FOREST RESERVES. 



AGRICULTURE, EASTERN SLOPE. 



It has been ascertained that there are 1,495 acres of laud, more or 

 less accurately described as agricultural, in the reserve, 82 acres of 

 which are under plow. Further development is not probable, since the 

 climate is so unfavorable that even potatoes make an uncertain crop. 



GRAZING, EASTERN SLOPE. 



A little grazing has been practiced at moderate elevations in the 

 open forest, and provision should be made to permit its continuance so 

 far as the home stock of actual settlers is concerned. Open grassy 

 stretches at high elevations should be protected against the grazing of 

 cattle and especially of sheep. ISTo demand of this kind has as yet 

 been made upon them, and none should be encouraged or considered 

 when made. 



WESTERN SLOPE. 



The western portion of the reserve lies on the long and gradual western 

 slope of the Bitterroot Mountains, from a little north of the well-known 

 IjoIo trail to the Salmon Elver. It includes an exceedingly broken 

 mountainous country plentifully watered, with occasional stretches 

 dotted here and there by extensive meadows. The more j)recipitous 

 portions lie along the main divide and in a very steep and rugged region 

 about in the middle of the slope. Its canyons, cut by glaciers which 

 have disappeared, are frequently almost impassable. In ijlaces of less 

 abrupt but still very steep slopes it is exceediugly remarkable that the 

 soil does not wash. Frequently altogether without a covering of any 

 kind, it maintains itself upon sidehills with inclinations often of 45 

 degrees, without a sign of gullying. The absence of torrential rains 

 is probably a reason for this striking fact, and the nature of the rock 

 is another. The latter is granite, except in the southern part, and the 

 coarse and very porous soil which it produces is in general poor and 

 little adapted for anything but the growth of trees. Its climate, moist 

 in the upper portion and subalpine along jiarts of the western border, 

 furnishes rainfall enough for the prosperity of forests. At present this 

 region produces practically nothing except water for use beyond its own 

 borders. 



THK I'ORKST, WESTERN SLOPE. 



The forest over ijortious of this western part of the reserve is exceed- 

 ingly dense. It would be extremely rich throughout except for past 

 llres. Its most widely distributed tree is the Douglas fir (red fir), which 

 occurs in all but the loftiest situations. The most prolific areas of 

 its forest are covered by a dense growtli of the western cedar, which in 

 places reaches a yield of niore than 100,000 feet per acre B. M. Except 

 for old trees of this latter species, the trees which compose these forests 

 are usually sound. 



The Douglas fir is very widely distributed throughout this region, 

 except at high altitudes. In mixture with the western yellow pine it 

 occupies dry southern and western slopes in the higher portions and 

 covers considerable areas lower down. Mixed with the lowland fir ( white 

 fir), Bnglemaun spruce, and lodge-pole pine on barren ridges, and again 

 with the spruce in wet situations at low altitudes, it shows its wonderful 

 capacity to meet the most various conditions in its surroundings. It 

 reaches here the following average measurements: Height, 100 feet; 

 diameter, 2 feet; length of clear trunk, 40 feet. 



