
CAPABILITIES WITH REFERENCE TO SETTLEMENT. 289 
the first time, the Salicornea was met with in some abundance. There 
were also many dead shells of Limnea, and Planorbis parvus; but whe- 
ther these molluses lived in the saline water, or were washed thither 
from some neighboring swamp, I was unable to determine. 
672. The extent and general contour of Turtle Mountain have 
already been described in another connection (§ 511). Forming as it 
does, a more or less thickly wooded area, which may be estimated_as over 
300 square miles, it cannot but be a valuable nucleus for the utilization of 
the surrounding treeless plains; serving as a supply of fuel and building 
material, and as a refuge for wintering stock, which during the summer 
has been herded at large over the prairie. Though the elevated and 
broken area of the ‘mountain’ is pretty nearly equally divided by the 
Line, the northern half is more uniformly covered with woods, and pro- 
bably embraces two-thirds of the forest area. There are also large regions 
of the so-called mountain, which, though more boldly undulating than 
the prairie, show good soil, and will eventually be cleared for agriculture. 
There are indications that this wooded area receives a much more copious 
rainfall than that of the surrounding country. The ‘mountain’ is now 
the head quarters of a large band of Sioux Indians, many of whom were 
concerned in the Minnesota massacre. They are a rather good looking 
and well-disposed race, and derive a moderately comfortable subsistence 
from hunting the moose, wapiti, Xe. 
673. The wood is chiefly poplar (P. tremuloides, P. balsamifera, &c.) 
Oak (Quercus macrocarpa) however, occurs abundantly along the margins 
of the forest, and forms groves on the ridges, or grows interspersed with 
other trees. White birch (Betula alba) is abundant, though not forming 
large groves, and black birch (B. lenta) also occurs. The ash-leaved 
maple, or ‘box elder’ (Negundo aceroides), and the elm (Ulmus Ameri- 
cana) are also found, the latter attaining considerable dimensions in 
some of the more sheltered vallies. The largest poplars observed must 
have been over two feet in diameter at the base, and of good height. 
The average size in many groves is about eighteen inches. The oak and 
birch are seldom over two feet in diameter, and the latter are generally 
much less; but growing in thick masses, and very tall. Most of the 
swamps are grassy, and would yield excellent hay. They are generally 
fringed thickly with willows of different species. The underwood is 
composed of hazles (Corylus Americana), choke cherries (Prunus 
Virginiana), thorns (Crataegus coccinea), roses, raspberries (Rubus 
strigosus), &e. Peas and vetches are abundant, and occur with the fire- 
19 D 
