n spruce, the cottonwood and the aspen (_Populus
tremuloides_). In 1899 Federal forest reserves had been created,
aggregating 4849 sq. m. in extent, and by 1910 this had been increased
to 24,528 sq. m. The reserves cover altitudes of 7000 to 14,000 ft. The
rainfall is ample for their needs, but no other reserves in the country
showed in 1900 such waste by fire and pillage. The minor flora of the
country is exceedingly rich. In the plains the abundance of flowers,
from spring to autumn, is amazing.

Large game is still very abundant west of the continental divide. The
great parks are a favourite range and shelter. Deer and elk frequent
especially the mountains of the north-west, in Routt and Rio Blanco
counties, adjoining the reservations of the Uncompahgre (White River
Ute) and Uintah-Ute Indians--from whose depredations, owing to the
negligence of Federal officials, the game of the state has suffered
enormous losses. The bison have been exterminated. Considerable bands of
antelope live in the parks and even descend to the eastern plains, and
the mule-deer, the most common of large game, is abundant all through
the mountains of the west. Grizzly or silver-tip, brown and black bears
are also abundant in the same region. Rarest of all is the magnificent
mountain sheep. Game is protected zealously, if not successfully, by the
state, and it was officially estimated in 1898 that there were then
probably 7000 elk, as many mountain sheep, 25,000 antelope and 100,000
deer within its borders (by far the greatest part in Routt and Rio
Blanco counties). Fish are not naturally very abundant, but the mountain
brooks are the finest home for trout, and these as well as bass,
cat-fish and some other varieties have been used to stock the streams.

_Soil._--The soils of the lowlands are prevailing sandy loams, with a
covering of rich mould. The acreage of improved lands in 1900 was
returned by the federal census as 2,273,968, three times as much being
unimproved; the land improved constituted 3.4% of the state's area. The
lands available for agriculture are the lowlands and the mountain parks
and valleys.

Speaking generally, irrigation is essential to successful cultivation,
but wherever irrigation is practicable the soil proves richly
productive. Irrigation ditches having been exempted from taxation in
1872, extensive systems of canals were soon developed, especially after
1880. The Constitution of Colorado declares the waters of its