TREES OF THE MISSOURI BASIN 
29 
found among the timber. The poison ivy {Rhus toxicodendron) 
is common in open places in timber. The prickly gooseberry 
{Rites gracile) is common in woods. The wild black currant 
{Rites floridum) is common in the ravines. The willows {Salix 
humulis and tristis) are common in open high places, borders 
of woods. The herbaceous plants in the rich woods consist of 
sweet william {Phlox divaricata) , Dutchman’s breeches {Dicen- 
tra cucullaria), hepatica {Hepatica acutilota) , blue violet 
{Viola cucullata), goldenrod {SoUdago ulmifolia), blood root 
{Sanguinaria canadensis), and blue aster {Aster sa^ittifolius) . 
In open dry bur-oak woods are buck brush {Symphoricarpos 
Occident alis) , blue aster {Aster laevis), ox-eye {Heliopsis scatra), 
meadow sunflower. {Helianthus grosseserratus and E. Maxi- 
miliani) on border of woods in draws. 
ECONOMIC NOTES ON THE TREES. 
Fremont County. — Fremont county, occupying the southwest 
corner of the state, presents a varied topography. On the west 
side of the county is the Missouri river bottom which varies in 
width from three to nine miles. Bordering this river bottom 
land are a number of bluffs which vary in height from 150 to 
300 feet. These bluffs are built up largely of Missouri loess. 
Numerous ravines cut through the bluffs throughout the entire 
width of the county. The bulk of the native timber is found on 
the slopes of these ravines. Farther back from the Missouri 
river, a rolling prairie country is found. 
The whole surface of Fremont county is made up of Missouri 
loess of considerable depth. 
Up to the year 1880, both the bottom lands and bluff lands 
were heavily timbered. A large part of the valuable growth 
has been cut since this time. The present stand of timber found 
on the bottom land consists principally of cottonwood. The 
mills, which are largely dependent on this species for their out- 
put, are still in operation. The best stands of timber are found 
on the slopes of the ravines bordering the bottom lands. The 
timber consists largely of basswood, hickory, walnut, ash and elm. 
The timber reproduces readily both by coppice and seed — more 
especially the hickory, basswood and red elm — where fires and 
live stock are kept out. Indications are that the forest in this 
region would extend itself naturally were it not for the culti- 
vation of the fields close up to the timber. The higher points 
