
CAPABILITIES WITH REFERENCE TO SETTLEMENT. 299 
watershed, but is generally small. The largest timber observed, was in 
some of the higher and more secluded vallies. The trees resembled the 
black spruce, but were probably Abies Engelmanni. It is unnecessary 
here to enter into detail with regard to the alpine and arctic flora of 
the higher parts of the mountains. I was only able to devote a 
few spare hours to the collection of plants, but a number of very 
interesting forms were obtained, and will be found catalogued in the 
appended list. 
705. The foregoing descriptions will show that the character of the 
third steppe is much more varied than that of either of the others ; but 
also that no part of its southern extent compares favourably with the 
land of the Red River Valley, or that of the best parts of the 
second steppe—always excepting the land along the immediate base of 
the mountains. At the same time, the explorations in connection with 
the Boundary Survey have served to show, that this country, formerly con- 
sidered almost absolutely desert, is not—with the exception of a limited 
area—of this character; that a part of it may be of future importance 
agriculturally, and that a great area is well suited for pastoral occupation 
and stock farming. 
706. The fertile region at the base of the Rocky Mountains, accord- 
ing to Palliser and other explorers, narrows somewhat about fifty miles 
north of the Line, but then spreads eastward, while the mountains tread 
to the west, and: includes a great area of fertile country in the vicinity of 
the North Saskatchewan, the more northern position of which is more 
than compensated for, by its decreased altitude, and the lower and more 
open mountain passes to the west. 
This fertile belt to the north, must form the basis for the settlement 
and ‘utilization of the western plains. The cactus-covered desert tract 
does not seem to stretch far to the north of the Line; but there is an 
extensive region of the third prairie steppe south of the fertile belt 
which is described as having a poor soil, with scanty herbage, and no 
wood, except on northern exposures. 
707. With regard to the climate of the third prairie steppe in 
the vicinity of the Line, not much information is at command. In two 
places, I was able to observe the temperature of copious springs, 
flowing out at such a depth from the surfacé, as to render it probable 
that their waters were not far from the mean annual temperature. On 
both occasions, the thermometer indicated 46° F. One of the localities is 
near longtitude 106° 30°; the other at 113°. The mean temperature of 
