Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 16.djvu/803

Rh base of the Bitter-root Mountains into Idaho. This stream is very rapid, and is not navigable. Its course, as well as those of most of its tributaries, passes through narrow valleys, the surrounding country being well watered and covered with dense forests of Coniferse.

Gevloyy. Most of the mountain area belongs to the Eozoic and Silurian formations. Along the base of the mountains is a Triassic belt of variable width. Succeeding this is a broad area of nearly horixontal Cretaceous beds, followed by the Tertiary formation, which covers nearly one-third of the Territory. These recent for mations are interrupted here and there by volcanic upheavals.

Cliinate, The climate of Montana differs almost as greatly in different parts of the Territory as that of California. In the north west it resembles that of the Pacific coast. The westerly winds blowing off the Pacific do not meet with as formidable a barrier as farther south, and consequently are not chilled, or deprived of so large a proportion of their moisture. The result is that the north western portion of Montana enjoys a mild temperature and a rainfall sufficient for the needs of agriculture. The valleys of the Kootenai, Flathead, Missoula, and Bitter-root can be cultivated without irriga tion with little danger of loss from drought. Farther east and south the rainfall decreases. In the valleys of the upper Missouri, the Jeilerson, Madison, Gallatin, and the upper Yellowstone irrigation is almost everywhere required, as well as over the broad extent of the plains. Over most of the Territory the rainfall ranges from 10 to 15 inches annually ; in the north-western corner it rises to 25.

The general temperature is comparatively mild for the latitude, the elevation above the sea being decidedly less than that of the average of the Rocky Mountain region. The mean annual temper ature ranges from 40 to 50 Fahr. , but the variations are very great and violent. Frosts and snowstorms are possible during every month of the year, so that agriculture and stock-raising are more or less hazardous. On the other hand, the ordinary extremes of temperature are not so great as in more arid portions of the country.

Forests. Throughout the Territory, as everywhere else in the Cordilleran region, forests follow rainfall. The plains are treeless ; the mountain valleys about the heads of the Missouri are clothed only with grass and arteinisia, many localities extending to a con siderable height up the mountains, which are themselves timbered, though not heavily. In the north-western part, roughly denned as the drainage area of Clark s Fork, where the rainfall is somewhat greater, the forests become of importance. The mountains are forest- clad from summit to base ; and the narrower valleys are also covered, while the timber is of larger size and of much greater commercial value than elsewhere in the Territory, the valuable timber consisting entirely of the various species of Coni/crte, pine, fir, cedar, &c. Of the broad-leaved species, willow, aspen, and cotton-wood are abundant.

   EB9 Montana.jpg    Fauna. The native fauna is not sharply distinguished from that of neighbouring States and Territories. The higher latitude is, however, indicated by the relatively greater abundance of species favouring a colder climate. The moose and the Rocky Mountain goat, though by no means abundant, still frequent chosen haunts in the mountains, the former in the cool marshy valleys, the latter upon the most rugged inaccessible elevations. The black-tailed and mule deer, the antelope, elk, and mountain sheep are abundant, and the bison still ranges the plains, though in sadly reduced numbers. Among Carnivore, the black and grizzly bears, mountain lion, lynx, wild cat, and several species of wolves are still plentiful.

Agriculture and Industry. Agriculture is dependent in most parts of Montana upon the supply of water furnished by the streams. Owing to this fact it is probable that not more than 8 per cent, of the total area of the Territory can ever, even under the most economical distribution of the water-supply, be brought xinder cultivation. In the drainage area of Clark s Fork are several fine valleys containing a considerable extent of arable land, such as those of the Missoula, Bitter-root, Deer Lodge, Jocko, and Flathead. Upon the head-waters of the Missouri is also a large extent of arable land. The valleys of the Jefferson and Madison also deserve mention. Along the eastern base of the mountains, near the head-waters of the Sun, Teton, and Marias rivers, are consider able areas susceptible of irrigation. Below the Forks the Missouri flows for 75 miles through a broad valley, much of which can be irri gated ; below Fort Benton, however, the bluffs become higher and close in on the river. The Yellowstone, also, after leaving the moun tains, flows through a similar kind of valley, which extends with a few minor breaks down to the point where the river turns from an east to a north-east course, when it enters a country of mauvaises terres, which, except as a mausoleum of fossil remains, is utterly valueless.

Owing to the comparatively isolated position of the Territory, agricultural pursuits have been limited by the demands of home consumption. The census of 1880 reported the area in farms to con sist of 405, 683 acres, with an average of 267 acres to each farm. The whole is less than one-half per cent, of the entire area of the Terri tory. The improved land is reported as amounting to 262,611 acres. The following are the amounts of the principal agricultural products : wheat, 469,688 bushels; maize, 5689 bushels; oats, 