20 



meadows that have been produced by intelligent irrigation, examples 

 of which may be seen along the valleys of the Platte, Bear, Gallatin, 

 and Belle Fourche rivers, in the Big Horn Basin, as well as along 

 many other streams of the region. On the other hand, the injurious 

 effect of careless treatment is very apparent on many ranches where, 

 because there is a great abundance of water, the meadows are kept so 

 wet that the better grasses are driven out and their places taken by 

 sedges and rushes, producing an inferior quality of hay. 



The following description of the conditions prevailing on the range 

 between the Missouri River, in South Dakota, and the Upper Belle 

 Fourche Eiver, in Wyoming, may be taken as typical of those obtain- 

 ing over the Northwest generally and illustrative of the marked effect 

 that an isolated mountainous region like the Black Hills may have 

 upon forage production and agriculture in general. The notes were 

 taken during a wagon trip from the (Jheyenue Indian Agency, on the 

 Missouri River, up the Moreau River and across to the Belle Fourche 

 River, in northeastern Wyoming, and back through the southern Black 

 Hills to Pierre, S. Dak. 



FORAGE CONDITIONS ON THE RANGE OF WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA 

 AND NORTHEASTERN WYOMING.* 



CHEYENNE AGENCY TO BELLE FOUECHE RIVER. 



This region varies greatly in the character of its surface. The laud 

 near the streams, especially the Moreau and the Missouri rivers, is 

 exceptionally rough. There are no great elevations or depressions, but 

 the smaller ones are a host. Back 3 or 4 miles from the river there are 

 table lands of considerable extent which are comparatively level, even 

 in the lower course. Farther west the country is not so rough, the 

 region from the mouth of Thunder Creek to the Belle Fourche being 

 an undulating prairie. 



The soil over a large part of the eastern portion of the region resem- 

 bles that east of the Missouri River very much. The humus decreases 

 gradually to the westward and one encounters more gumbo. The 

 whole region is covered with grass except occasional small si)ots of 

 gumbo and the steeper bluffs along the Moreau and Missouri rivers. 

 The eastern portion of the region differs from the western also in hav- 

 ing fewer sandy knolls. 



All the streams tributary to the Moreau and Cheyenne are wooded 

 to some extent. There are two or three conditions which are suggestive 

 in regard to the growth of timber. The soil is heavy and does not 

 allow the water to percolate through it very easily, but when once 

 started washes badly. This leads to washouts and holes in the stream 



*A1>striict from the report of Mr. David firiffitlis, who served as field a<;<'nt for the 

 divinion in South Dakota and Wyoming under a commission extending fri>m the 

 middle of July to the middle of September, 18137. 



