About 10,000,000 of the remaining 20,000,000 acres are excellent timber lands and are situated on the slopes and sides of the higher mountains, though west of the Continental Divide the valleys and flat bench lands are sometimes covered with timber.

The remaining 10,000,000 acres may be classed as barren and rugged mountain peaks and some little barren "bad lands" near the southeastern corner of the State, and the broken and rough cut banks of rivers, "couleés," etc.

It is in these more rugged mountain regions that the great gold, silver and copper deposits are found.

CLIMATE.

The climate of Montana is far more moderate and agreeable than is generally supposed, the spring and fall months in the valleys, which are the principal inhabited and cultivated portions, being delightfully mild and pleasant, with frost generally only at night, though these last till May and begin in early October.

The accompanying table shows the dates of the first and last killing frosts at Helena, also the mean monthly temperature at Helena, which place is chosen as a typical station, its altitude being 4,262 feet. From this table, which extends over a period of ten years, from 1880 to 1889, inclusive, with few interruptions, it appears that the earliest killing frost occurred on September 6th, 1881, and the latest killing frost on May 3d, 1888, but these were very exceptional frosts, the average dates for the same periods being September 26th and April 26th. The maximum temperature during the same period occurred in July, 1886, and was 103 degrees in the shade, while no other year showed a higher temperature than 97 degrees; and the average maximum temperature for the ten years was 94 degrees. The minimum temperature for the same period was –40 degrees, occurring in February, 1887, while the average minimum for ten years was –29 degrees. Great ranges of temperature are sometimes experienced, however, especially in local areas in the higher mountain valleys, where unusual frosts and snow flurries have occurred, though rarely, killing potatoes and other tender crops even in July and August.

Monthly Mean Temperatures at Helena, Mont.
1880. 1881. 1882. 1883. 1884.
Mean Temp. Killing Frost. Mean Temp. Killing Frost. Mean Temp. Killing Frost. Mean Temp. Killing Frost. Mean Temp. Killing Frost.
January 9.8 20.0 18.5 11.6
February 25.8 24.4 14.1 14.6
March 39.4 31.1 34.2 29.1
April 47.6 40.5 40.4 41.6
May 55.4 50.4 49.8 53.9
June 61.4 60.7 61.8 62.9
July 66.3 68.3 66.8 67.9 62.5
August 63.7 66.1 71.4 67.2 66.8
September 56.7 54.6 6th 60.1 29th 59.2 20th 49.7 6th
October 46.3 22d 37.9 41.7 38.9 47.0
November 19.3 28.8 30.9 33.0 36.4
December 9.0 30.8 27.3 27.4 7.0
Mean, Annual 43.8 43.8 42.7 40.3

Monthly Mean Temperatures at Helena, Mont. (Continued)
1885. 1886. 1887. 1888. 1889.
Mean Temp. Killing Frost. Mean Temp. Killing Frost. Mean Temp. Killing Frost. Mean Temp. Killing Frost. Mean Temp. Killing Frost.
January 21.0 10.1 20.6 5.3 16.7
February 28.2 34.5 5.0 35.0 25.2
March 40.6 29.1 40.3 23.2 39.1
April 45.7 42.9 42.4 20th 48.8 49.2
May 51.0 54.9 51.5 50.1 53.2
June 56.8 61.1 57.6 58.8 63.4
July 64.7 69.9 66.6 67.1 66.8
August 64.1 68.1 63.0 65.3 67.2
September 55.4 52.9 29th 56.0 61.2 55.2
October 47.5 43.3 42.9 8th 46.6 50.7
November 39.1 29.4 33.9 24.2 31.4
December 31.1 27.1 23.0 23.6 22.6
Mean, Annual 43.6 43.8 41.9 42.1 45.0