21 



beds which hold water until late iu the summer. The trees getting 

 started around these water-holes are supplied with sufficient moisture 

 during- the growing season. The stockmen and Indians have exercised 

 much vigilance of late in keeping out fires. Near Bixby it was stated 

 that it has been ten years since fire has passed over that region. 

 When fire does get started, it 

 is not so destructive to trees 

 and shrubbery as it would be 

 if there was more grass on 

 the ground. Almost invari- 

 ably we found the feed very 

 short near the water- lioles. 

 During the summer the range 

 cattle feed near the water, 

 working back on to the o])en 

 range as feed conditions de- 

 ma n d . Consequently, by 

 the time vegetation is dry 

 enough to burn, the grass 

 in the vicinity of the water- 

 holes is very short and fire 

 does not do so much damage. 



The timber along the Mo- 

 reau is made up of cotton- 

 wood, willows, buffalo berry, 

 box elder, green ash, white 

 elm, plums, and cherries, 

 with buck-bush, poison oak, 

 and various species of rose as 

 uudershrubs. On the bluffs 

 on either side are found Rhm 

 trilohata and an occasional 

 red cedar. Sage-brush ( A rte- 

 misia JongifoUa) is common 

 over limited areas in the 

 western portion of the region, 

 while species of cactus are 

 common everywhere. 



The feed on the Indian reservation is much superior to that farther 

 west, the main reason for this being that it is not pastured so closely. 

 The Indians have only a few cattle, and it appeared that they were 

 taking considerable pains to keep the feed along the Moreau River for 

 winter use. However this may be, Ave saw but few cattle on the river 

 bottom while on the reservation. Neither were any Indians seen except- 

 ing at three points on the river. Their log houses and stables were in 

 evidence all along, but no Indians or cattle to speak of. They were 



Fig. 4. — Fresli-water cord-grass (Spartina cynosuroides) : 

 a, spikelet, showing three stamens; &, spikelet, show- 

 ing the projecting stigmas of the pistil; c, the same, 

 with the outer glumes removed. 



