VOL. III.] Loco Weeds. 57 



to eat the weed once or twice prefers it to grass, can no longer be 

 fattened and becomes stupid and insensible to blows. Some victims 

 indicate the spread of the disease by a sort of trembling, others be- 

 come unmanageable and really crazy. The weed has no effect what- 

 ever on hogs; on sheep its effects are slight; horses seem most 

 readily poisoned and cattle next." 



The losses attributed to loco poisoning were so serious in Colora- 

 do that the legislature of 188 1 passed a law to this effect: A premium 

 of one and a half cents per pound was to be paid out of the state 

 treasury on all loco or poison weed dug during the months of May, 

 June and July. Each weed must be dug up not less than three 

 inches below the surface of the ground and was to be thoroughly 

 dry when weighed. The person who dug the weed was to produce 

 it before the clerk of the county where it was obtained and swear 

 that it was loco. The clerk was then to weigh the weed, burn it 

 and give the owner a certificate setting forth in words the number 

 of pounds of the weed, the name of the person, and that he had 

 proved the digging up of the weed and was entitled to the premi- 

 um. Upon presentation of this certificate to the county treasurer 

 he was to be paid from the state treasury or he might pay his taxes 

 in loco. 



Considering the great number of species of Astragalus which 

 abound in that region, so closely resembling each other that trained 

 botanists find it difficult to surely and readily identify them, the im- 

 possibility of the ordinary county clerk accomplishing this task will 

 be comprehended. He certainly could not examine every weed to 

 see that the root was of the required length nor could he always be 

 positive that every plant in the tons that were brought to him was 

 the true loco or poison weed. How could he know when the plant 

 was dry that it had been dug up only during the indicated months? 

 Loco lands soon became very profitable, since a ton of loco was 

 worth thirty dollars while the best upland hay brought only half 

 that amount. Judging from the reports of expenditure on premi- 

 ums, the supposed loco must have been brought in by the wagon 

 load. The Mexicans were accused of planting it and caring for it 

 assiduously. It would not be necessary to plant it, since if the roots 

 were left in the ground, a new crop would at once begin to flourish ; 

 for loco is like alfalfa and comes up afresh whenever it is mown. 

 Either in spite of the law or because of it the loco steadily increased 



