11 



alludiiii? to the value of our native grasses to obtain improved forms, 

 Prof. F. Lamson-Scribner says: 



Nearly all of our ctiltivatetl forage plants areof Ibreigu origiu, and if it were not 

 simply a matter of public interest, it ought to bo one of public sentiment to preserve 

 for the coming generations of American farmers these native species which have 

 added so much to the wealtli of the land in the past. The species in the grazing 

 regions in the west and southwest, and for that matter, in every part of this country 

 where sheep or cattle are raised, are best adapted for the conditions under whicli each 

 grass grows, and it is folly to think that better forms may be introduced from Europe 

 or Asia or Australia, where climate and soil and abundance of rainfall are different. 

 The meadow grasses of the parks, woodlands, and mountain slopes, the Grama and 

 Buflalo grasses of the southwest and the LJlae-stems of the eastern prairie belt, can 

 not be improved upon. 



It certainly seems to me that the time has arrived for us to consider the advisa- 

 bility of saving from extermination the numerous valuable forage plants found in 

 the arid and subarid portions of our country. The long-continued existence of these 

 grasses shows that they are adapted to the climate in which they occur. For ages 

 these valuable grasses have defied unfavorable climatic conditions and have stood 

 the tramping and grazing of vast herds of butilaloes. 



Central Nebraska is very favorably situated for grazing. The soil 

 in this section is productive, as is evidenced by the fine crops of corn 

 and small grain which have been grown here under favorable climatic 

 conditions. Influenced by these fine crops, settlers occupied the coun- 

 try and the valuable native turf was turned under and the land 

 devoted to the growth of small cereals and corn. The results in many 

 instances have been anything but satisfactory. jSTo method of agricul- 

 ture or human agency can control weather. The ordinary cultivated 

 crops can not be produced with a scant rainfall. The semiarid belt is 

 superb as a grazing country, unexcelled west of the Missouri. A crop 

 of grass is just as certain here as corn is in eastern Nebraska. The 

 climate is favorable for winter grazing and stock will need little atten- 

 tion. The crop can not be as large as under conditions of greater 

 moisture, and the grazing lands must be kept under certain restric- 

 tions. Business men and intelligent farmers with whom I have con- 

 versed believe that the only salvation for this region is the stock 

 industry. It will take some years to again see the turf- forming grasses 

 cover the field where the plow has destroyed the sod which was many 

 seasons in forming. Some believe that they will never return. It 

 requires time to reestablish a prairie, just as it does a forest, when 

 once burned over, to become covered with trees again. Annuals ap])ear 

 first, some nearly worthless, but these prepare the way for the better 

 perennials, like Blue-Stem and (irama. 



COLORADO. 



CENTRAL AND NORTH KKN fOLORAPO. 



The conditions prevailing in central and northern Colorado are so 

 different that the subject can not well be discussed under one head. 

 In northeastern Colorado the conditions are much the same as in west- 



