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26
Yakima River to

[[left margin]] 47° lat [[\left margin]]  On reaching the dividing ridge between the Yakima & Wenatshapam Rivers a new character of vegetation begins to appear.  The Pine of the western slopes is mingled with a species of Larch of which a few stunted trees had been observed in crossing the range in lat. 46°.  
[[left margin]] Larix occidentalis. [[\left margin]]  This tree is one of the most elegant of the forests to which it belongs and preposterously gigantic many appearing to be of 6 or 8 ft. diameter.  
[[left margin]] Deser. (fading [[\left margin]]  Its tall smooth reddish trunk crowned by a symmetrical head of the lightest foliage somewhat reminds one of the spruces but has a paler hue & less dense branches.  
[[left margin]] Range [[\left margin]]  This noble tree was a constant and agreeable companion in our northern explorations but nowhere exclusively found.  Of its limits I know little - but consider it the prevailing tree north of Lat.47° on the higher hills and scattered along the river banks.  
[[left margin]] Oct. [[\left margin]]  (The extreme lateness of the season after reaching this point prevented my making more than a very scanty collection of plants.  A few Artemisiae & other Compositae were the principal species observed and the parched and barren appearance of the soil gave little indication of what it would be in the short & early season of flowers.)

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27
Okanagan River

[[left margin]] Col. Canon [[\left margin]]  Our route here following along the banks of the Columbia for 40 miles we found its characteristic "Canon" fully developed.  Narrow strips of alluvial soil bordered it alternately on either side, while as it ran on its winding course it cut at intervals steep escarpments in the solid Granitic rocks, along which our animals were led with great loss & difficulty.  But whenever we ascended from its banks to the valleys above, especially near lake Chelan we found the same grassy valleys, only more fertile in appearance than southward.  
[[left margin]] Soil [[\left margin]]  Near Fort Okanagan there is a short interval in the canon but only to give place to what appeared to be a sandy desert - though some vegetation exists & crops of potatoes &c have been raised in small quantities, and it is probable that some spots will be found well suited for cultivation.
Our excursions through the valleys of Methow & Okinagan [[sic]] rivers showed no or country much superior to that south of 47° the hills being well covered with grass or dense forests in about equal proportions.  The valleys also though sandy seemed to be well adapted for grazing.  I observed no trees here not before seen and there was a remarkable deficiency of game, or of animal life in any form - the Sharp tail Grouse being even scarce.

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