86 SURVEYS OF FOREST RESERVES. 



AGRICULTURE, WESTERN SLOPE. 



The severity of the climate makes serious agriculture impossible on 

 the whole slope, with the possible exception of a small area in the Big 

 Blackfoot drainage basiu. I am not aware that any corrections of the 

 boundaries are required under this head. 



GRAZING, WESTERN .SLOPE. 



Considerable areas on the head waters of Swan Eiver and the South 

 Fork and in the watershed of the Big Blackfoot are more or less valu- 

 able as grazing lands. These areas are for the most part heavily tim- 

 bered with yellow pine, but they often support a vigorous growth of 

 grass beneath the trees. Regulations for the government of grazing 

 within this reserve, similar in general scope to those recommended in 

 the case of sheep in the Cascade Forest Keserve, will easily and salely 

 make these resources available for stock raising. 



FOEBST MANAGUMENT, WESTERN SLOPE. 



The problems to be met in putting the western slope under right 

 management are somewhat complicated. The topogrnphy is very di- 

 verse in its effect on the forests, and the latter show conspicuous sylvi- 

 cultural differences. Cutting in narrow strips in the mixed forests of 

 the lower river valleys will probably lead to the best results, while wider 

 strips in lodge-pole pine, or even clear cutting over blocks of some size 

 in the old forests of yellow pine, may be safe and profitable. It is evi- 

 dent that a detailed study of the whole region should precede any 

 attempt to put it under forest management. Special littention should 

 be given to the conditions which govern the reproduction of the larch, 

 which is in many ways the most valuable tree of the whole reserve. 

 There is no large immediate demand for the forest products of this 

 reserve, but a system of licenses for small amounts of timber is needed 

 at once. Some timber has been illegally cut and driven down the South 

 Fork to market. Hereafter this stream, as well as the Middle Fork 

 and Swan Eiver, will be largely utilized in this way. 



FOREST FORCE. 



It has been recommended (Part II, page 4(3) that the forest ranger in 

 charge of the Bitter Eoot Keserve should exercise a limited supervision 

 over the Lewis and Clark and Flathead reserves also, and that guards 

 should be stationed at or near Ovando and Columbia Falls. A far 

 larger force is required at once, but other reserves in much greater 

 need of immediate protection make necessary this division of the forest 

 force assumed to be available. Other points where guards .ire needed 

 are Swan Lake and the Hot Springs of Sun Eiver. 



BOUNDARIES. 



Except for the exclusion of an untimbered area southeast of Heart 

 Butte, amounting to perhaps three townships, no reductions of conse- 

 quence appear to be required, nor am I aware that the retention of 

 these townships for a time will work hardships to any citizens. More 

 detailed knowledge should be acquired before the final lines are laid 

 down. 



