14 



canyous that one meets the hirger aud less common grasses. The 

 grasses of the dry foothills generally grow in small bunches, but they 

 are surprisingly nutritious. Notwithstanding the drj' weather prevail- 

 ing in tlie foothills during the month of June, 1800, cattle were in most 

 excellent condition, which indicated that they had been fed on forage 

 of superior (juality. The conditions are such as one occasionally finds 

 in the case of Ulue-grass during a dry season in the Eastern States, the 

 leaves of the grasses, though perfectly dry, containing an abundance 

 of nutriment. In the narrow canyons and wider valleys a more lux- 

 uriant growth was observed, aud where stock were not allowed to 

 graze the meadows were in fine condition. The larger valleys u^) in 

 the mountains are mostly taken u]) bj^ homesteaders, who select this 

 land since they can here raise a crop of two-rowed barley. This barley 

 is cut and used for hay. The larger wild grasses growing in these 

 meadows are used in a similar way. During the summer the cattle 

 range on the mountains, and in the winter are fed on the hay made in 

 the valleys. Not only do ranchmen grow cattle for beef, but at the 

 lower altitudes dairying is carried on and the butter made finds a ready 

 sale in the mountain towns. 



In the lower foothills large areas of pine and Douglass spruce have 

 been to a great extent removed. Several small shrubs, such as Kine- 

 bark {Physocarpiis torreyi). Raspberry [Ruhtis (leliciosus), Furshia tri- 

 dentata, and Jamesia americana, are common. Purshia tridentata is fre- 

 quently browsed by cattle; in fact many of the i)lants are jiicked bare. 

 The chief pine at lower altitudes is Pinns jyonderosus soopidornm. 

 When not too dense, these woods furnish excellent grazing. At higher 

 altitudes, about 8,500 feet, Piuus ponderosun is the principal tree. The 

 woods are usually open enough to allow a growth of grass underneath, 

 and make good ranges, especially since there are numerous small open- 

 ings, where species adapted to moist soils grow. It has freciuently been 

 stated that the burning of these forests is conducive to a good growth 

 of grass. This is true only in mountain meadows. A forest burnt 

 over is absolutely sterile for a term of years, as far as forage i)lants are 

 concerned. The fire not only destroys whatever turf there is, but it 

 prevents reseeding. Such burnt forests are at first largely covered 

 with various fireweeds, which are of little or no value for forage. In 

 the course of years the character of vegetation changes; grasses and 

 little shrubs appear, then the Trembling Aspen {Popuhis iremuloides) 

 comes up; it soon becomes so thick that but little else will grow, and 

 cattle find little pasturage. A fire, therefore, destroys for a period of 

 years all h()})e of gc^od forage, and it is to the interest of the ranchman 

 that the forest should not be burnt over. The grasses most suited for 

 these regions are such as are indigenous here; in fact there are few evi- 

 dences of naturalization. Timothy is not uncommon in the foothills, 

 but was found in only one locality at an altitude of 10,000 feet, along one 

 of the mountain trails. AMiite Clover was also found at nearly the 

 same altitude under similar conditions. 



