The alpine flora of Montana

Abstract

The data for this thesis Is gleaned from many sources. The herbarium of the State College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts has been carefully canvassed. For many of the ideas advanced I am indebted to Dr. J. W. Blankenship who has given me free access to his private note books and much personal assistance. The excellent libraries of the College and Dr. Blankenship have been carefully reviewed, and are often referred to in the following pages. During the last nine years, I have visited many of the highest peaks in person. The summer of each year being spent as follows: 1894 in the Yellowstone Nat. Park. 1895 in the Bull Mountains and Little Belt-range. 1896 and 1897 in the Little Belt and Judith ranges. 1898 in the Big Belt and Crazy Mts. 1899 in the Big Belt chain, and 1900, 1901 and 1902 in the Bear Tooth range between Wyoming and the Yellowstone River. Not all of this time has been given up to botanical work. Many days have been spent in geological studies and prospecting. Some have been given up completely to hunting and fishing or exploring the uninhabited portions of the mountains; others have been devoted to ethical and aesthetical pleasures towards which the mountains always draw one so irresistibly. For these latter days I have no excuse to offer. They are the alpine summits of human existence.