Viewing page 66 of 97

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

22
[[underline]] Limits of Forests [[\underline]]

The Pine Forest of the Basin Slope of the Cascade Mts, varies in width from 10 to 30 miles.  
[[left margin]] Forests [[\left margin]]  It is confined wholly to the higher parts of the ridges sporadic trees only occurring along the riverbanks in the valleys.  I account for this by the greater amount of moisture required by the tree than the scanty rains of the valleys afford.  
[[left margin]] Storms [[\left margin]]  Storms frequently break over the high mountain tops while the valleys are dry & parched for months together.  Of this we had frequent proof during our short stay on the summit in August having no less than 2 falls of rain while the lower regions had been dry for a long time before.  [[left margin]] Limits [[/left margin]] And here as before observed in other regions the edge of forest is very abrupt and scarcely to be noticed by any gradual diminution in the growth of the trees.
[[left margin]] Oaks [[\left margin]]  A somewhat greater number of oaks occurs, but this is found at all the openings & prairies.
[[left margin]] Soil [[\left margin]]  The cause of this abruptness of the limits of forest is probably a change in the soil, which had been sandy ever since leaving the mountain tops and, here becomes suddenly a barren shingle of basaltic rock & fragments over nearly the whole of the ridge, the valleys however continuing to have a sandy & gravelly soil.

[[left margin]] (P.23 A) [[\left margin]] (Southern range of Pine from Fremont)

[[end page]]
[[start page]]

23
[[underline]] Entrance on Plains [[\underline]]

[[left margin]] A [[\left margin]](If the sudden and entire changes of vegetation have surprised us in our progress eastward hitherto; the total absence of trees, and diversity of plants in the Region we are now entering must be still more astonishing).
[[left margin]] View [[\left margin]]  As far as the eye can reach in this clear mountain air, & from an elevation of over 3000 ft. above the sea we behold nothing but an endless waste apparently sloping downward from us into a level plain and bounded in the far off horizon by dim blue cloudlike mountains.
[[left margin]] Valleys [[\left margin]]  Far below us are some valleys marked by a streak of what seems bushes through their centre, which hide their water courses while the great Columbia is hid only by intervening ridges.  The point from which this view was visible is situated about due East of Mt. Adams and 10 miles from its base, where our trail came out after having traversed the forest for 70 miles after leaving the summit of the range.
[[left margin]] (P.25.A) B [[\left margin]] [[left margin]] Utah [[\left margin]] (The similarity of soil, scenery & vegetation between this country and Utah was the first fact that struck me, and one that I found confirmed by my whole tour of 1000 miles through it.  Unfortunately the lateness of the season prevented a large collection of plants but their general similarity was quite evident.)