298 B. N. A. BOUNDARY COMMISSION. 
about twenty-five miles in width. On crossing the St. Mary River, a 
very marked and rather sudden change for the better is observed. The 
surface, at the same time, becomes more undulating and broken, and is 
quite hilly before the actual base of the mountains is reached. It is now 
covered with a thick vegetable soil, supporting a luxuriant growth of 
grass ; and wherever the fire has spared them, trees are to be found in all 
stages of growth. Many plants, last seen in the neighbourhood of Pem- 
bina Mountain and the Red River Valley, and which across the more 
arid plains have been lurking only in sheltered hollows and damp coulées, 
now re-appear over the surface of the country generally. The rivers and 
streams, also, entirely change their character, and instead of flowing 
sluggishly with a milky opacity, now hold clear blue water, run swiftly 
over stony and gravelly beds, and are filled with trout. 
The thickets are generally of poplar, but in the immediate vicinity 
of the mountains show birch and coniferous trees also. The EHle@agnus 
found in stunted thickets on the plains, now forms a well-grown bush, 
and the vallies and hill-slopes in August were gay with various species 
of Aster, Solidago, Epilobium, Castilleia, and with Geranium Fremontii. 
703. I was informed by traders, who had wintered in the vicinity of 
St. Mary River, that the snow does not lie here for more than about three 
months, the temperature also being much milder than in localities further 
east. ‘It would appear probable, however, from the altitude of the 
country, that early and late frosts may shorten the season agriculturally, 
to a greater extent than indicated by the above statement. As the 
Mounted Police are, I believe, at present wintering in this neighbourhood, 
more authentic information on the climate will no doubt soon be forth- 
coming. The buffalo are said to frequent the foot-hills of the mountains 
in winter, in great numbers, and their remains were found in the South 
Kootanie Pass, as far as the last patch of meadow land, on the east side 
of the watershed. | 
704. For this part of the country, the mountains form an inexhaust- 
able source of wood for construction, and also for fuel, though extensive 
areas are known to be underlaid by coal. The timber in the mountains 
is Chiefly coniferous, and not of large size, except in certain secluded | 
vallies. A species of pine, somewhat resembling the Banksian pine, 
but which I believe to be Pinus contorta, is found pretty abundantly in 
some localities, especially on the gravel terraces, and valley bottoms. It 
would afford good straight timber, but does not attain a great girth. 
The Douglas pine (Abies Douglasii), also occurs on both sides of the 

