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24
[[underline]] Columbia Canon & [[\underline]]

[[left margin]] "Canon" [[\left margin]]  (A remarkable geological fact respecting the Columbia River but one very characteristic of the rivers throughout this region is that for 150 miles of its course or that position from its Passage through the Cascade Mts. up to its great bend at Walla Walla, it flows, not through a valley but through a "Canon".  This may be compared to a great crack in the solid basaltic "crust of the Earth" though its real nature is still undecided.  We find however that its effect on the vegetation is very decided, for if we drop from the hefty cliffs on each side, down to the water's edge we find scarcely any differences in that respect.  
[[left margin]] Cliffs [[\left margin]]In fact the river can make scarcely any accumulations of soil along its narrow canal-like "Canon" the floods sweeping clean up to the foot of the cliffs in many places, & allowing the growth of nothing but willows & a few other plants that can bear the inundation.
[[left margin]] 49th° [[\left margin]]  With a few intervals of level sandy desert of no importance the river from Wallawalla up to the 48th° continues to flow through canons & therefore no special valley vegetation exists on all its middle course of at least 400 miles.)

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25
[[underline]] Valleys [[\underline]]

(The case is different however with regard to its smaller branches, and also of those from which it arises itself.)
[[left margin]] A [[\left margin]] [[left margin]] Valleys [[\left margin]]  In our progress northward parallel to the Cascade Range we crossed eight valleys through which tributaries flowed.  These had all a very similar appearance and vegetation.  
[[left margin]] Terraces [[\left margin]]They each contain a succession of ancient & lacustrine terraces, varying some in soil according to their heights above the present water.  Each terrace also varies in its characteristic Plants.  
[[left margin]] Plants [[\left margin]]On the highest & most gravelly we find the Artemisia tridentata or "Wild Sage" a plant very extensively different through the "Plains".  Lower will be thickets of a Linosyris, and, higher scarcely anything but Purshia or "Greasewood".  The best soil being always lowest we find along the bottoms a fine growth of grass and many interesting plants.
[[left margin]] Trees [[\left margin]]  On the edge of the stream only are what resemble trees but too much stunted to be compared to the gigantic growth of the Western forests.  The species are few a Poplar, [[?sensra Curillous]], scattered Pines and rarely an Ash or Maple & oak. 
[[left margin]] Shrubs [[\left margin]]  Of shrubs a Rose, Cherry, Poison Oak, [[?Coshel]] are to be seen & most of the species are different from their analogues lower down.