THE RIVER BOTTOM HARDWOOD FOREST 



The hardwood type occurs in narrow strips or stringers along the 

 Missouri, Marias, Milk, Teton, and Sun Rivers and their tributaries. 

 Cottonwood is the principal species. Many of the river bottom 

 Cottonwood trees average about 24 inches in diameter at breast 

 height and run two logs in height. To date utilization of the 

 hardwoods has been limited to local uses: fuelwood, and ranch con- 

 struction lumber. There are, however, some commercial possibili- 

 ties for producing lumber, crating material, excelsior, and veneer. 



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