234 Dr James Hector on the Physical Features of the 
as a possession. Even in June and July, the Expedition expe- 
rienced great inconvenience in traversing it, from the want of 
wood, water, and pasture. 
Along the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains there is 
much fine land with very rich pasture; but the sharp night 
frosts which occur throughout the summer would render the 
raising of cereals very precarious. When close to the moun- 
tains, several trees appear which are found in greatest number 
on the west slope of the continent. Of these the principal is 
the “ Prushe” of the voyageurs, which is so named by them 
from its general resemblance to the hemlock spruce (Abies 
canadensis). It is however a very distinct tree. Two pines 
were also observed that were not remarked further to the 
eastward, one of which is only slightly different from the 
Pinus monticola of Douglas. The collections obtained at the 
base of the mountains are not satisfactory, as, at the time of 
M. Bourgeau’s visit, the season was too late for any plants but 
alpines. 
The valleys of the Rocky Mountains are occupied by forests, 
excepting in a few localities, where there occur level gravelly 
plains clothed with tufts of “ bunch grass” (Mestuca). The 
forest consists principally of the Prushe, Douglas, white and 
black spruce. This mixed forest, with a very varied under- 
growth, extends to 5000 feet in altitude, when it is succeeded 
by a forest of Abies balsamea. The tree that is found highest, 
however, is the Abies alba; and at an altitude of 7000 feet 
in exposed situations it is quite dwarfed in size, with recum- 
bent branches that spread like thatch over the mountain sides. 
The altitude of the alpine region in the Rocky Mountains is 
very variable, and ranges from 7000 to 9000 feet. Itis char- 
acterised by the occurrence of many plants of identical species: 
with those found in similar situations in Europe. 
The following is a list of some of the plants collected by 
the writer in the eastern part of the chain, in Lat. 52° north, 
at an altitude of from 7000 to 9000 feet. They are all from 
one locality, near the height of land of a pass from the South 
to the North branches of the Saskatchewan River, and were 
gathered in the end of August 1859 :— 
