25 



has two distinct forms of growth. Along the ditches and among other 

 grasses it assumes an upright form, while along roads and in barnyards, 

 where the ground is packed down to some extent, it is almost prostrate 

 and often strikes root at the joints. It appears to thrive as well under 

 this form of irrigation as it does under artesian irrigation in the eastern 

 part of the State. 



Squirrel-tail grass {Hordeum Juhatum) is a bad weed wherever the 

 perennial grasses are ii^rigated on low, alkaline ground. 



Besides the usual forage crops there is a great deal of rye, wheat, 

 and oats cut for hay. Winter rye is usually sown. These crops are 

 resorted to only in the drier portions of the region or where no water is 

 available for irrigating purposes. Although small grain is raised here 

 successfully with irrigation, the main crop is hay. There is consider- 

 able feeding done during the winter. The big cattle companies make 

 provision with the settlers here, and also with the ranchmen farther 

 out on the range, for the wintering of calves and weak cows which are 

 picked up during the last beef " round-up " in the fall. 



The distribution of precipitation is very peculiar. The rainfall is 

 much more abundant in the vicinity of the Black Hills than on the open 

 range on either side. While irrigation is resorted to with profit 

 wherever practicable, the region is not dependent on it entirely. Occa- 

 sionally good crops of grain are raised without irrigation, but it is 

 rather uncertain. When wheat and oats are sown for the grain and 

 the crop proves to be a failure, it can usually be told in time so that it 

 can be cut early enough to make good hay, which is always in demand. 

 In the vicinity of Sundance, Wyo., and elsewhere along the base of the 

 Bear Lodge Mountains, very fair crops are usually raised with no arti- 

 ficial watering. This year the prospects near Sundance were very good, 

 but they had the misfortune of being "hailed" out. 



The Bear Lodge Mountains are in general covered with pine {Pint(s 

 sco2)uIo}'um), with an occasional grove of oak, poplar, and birch. The 

 pine is especially heavy on the outer slopes of the mountains and in the 

 "draws" and gulches farther up. Along the divides and edges of 

 "draws" there is very fine pasturage. The range cattle do not get in 

 here to any extent, partly from choice but principally on account of the 

 fact that ranchers have fenced most of the land along the base of the 

 mountains separating the open range from the mountain pasture lands. 

 Common along the Bear Lodge Mountains is King's fescue (Festuca 

 kingii), which makes a fine growth below the lower timber line and is 

 very common at higher elevations. It is highly prized by the ranchmen 

 along the base of the mountains on account of its early spring growth. 

 It furnishes pasturage at a much earlier date than any other native 

 grass. Occasionally it makes some hay, but it is looked upon as a 

 pasture rather than a hay grass. 



