
CAPABILITIES WITH REFERENCE TO SETTLEMENT. 287 
plain, occupy coulées at some depth below its general surface, which, 
however, gradually die out, the stream at the same time disappearing. 
, Country of the Second Prairie Steppe. 
666. The extreme western margin of the Red River prairie, in the 
vicinity of the slope of Pembina Mountain, is diversified by groves of 
oak, which stretch out from its base; and would no doubt, be much more 
extensively wooded, but for the constant recurrence of prairie fires. The 
front of the escarpment, and its summit, forming the edge of the second 
prairie steppe, are in some places thickly wooded, and always show ex- 
tensive patches of timber. The forest-covered area increases north- 
westward. In the vicinity of the Line, the woods owe their preservation 
to the protection against fires afforded by the broken nature of the edge of 
the escarpment, by the great valley of the Pembina River, and its systems 
of tributary coulées, and to the frequent occurrence of patches of swamp. 
Poplar is probably the most abundant tree, though even after ascending 
the escarpment, groves of oak are found. The wooded region has, 
however, in all localities suffered much from local fires; most of the trees 
at present living are small, while traces of a former heavy forest growth 
frequently appear. 
667. In some places pretty extensive prairie areas occur between 
Pembina Escarpment, and Pembina River, and with the exception of a 
few localities, near the edge of the escarpment, where the Cretaceous 
clays are near the surface, the soil is of excellent quality, and differs from 
that of the Red River Valley by the addition of a considerable proportion 
of sandy material. Swamps are here pretty thickly scattered, and some 
of them attain large dimensions in spring. Those parts of them which 
are permanently wet, however, bear luxurient crops of natural hay- 
grass, and the general aspect of this region is favourable. 
668. On crossing the Pembina River, the eastern margin of the 
great treeless plain is entered on. No woods now appear, except those 
forming narrow belts along the vallies of the streams, and soon, even the 
smaller bushes become rare. The shrubs met with are generally stunted, 
from the absence of shelter against the wind, and the frequent passage of 
prairie fires. The little thickets consist, according to situation, of dwar- 
fish. snow-berry (Symphoricarpus occidentalis) Spirea, roses,.and wil- 
lows fringing the small swamps and pools. The metallic-leaved silver- 
berry (Eleagnus argentea), comparatively rare in the Red River Valley, 
now begins to occur in abundance on the drier areas, In the last 
