50 



similar range, but is much less abundant antt Las rather higher alti- 

 tudinal limits. In localities where it is plentiful it is highly prized by 

 stockmen, by whom it is often called " purpletop" on account of the 

 l^revailing color of the inflorescence. It is much more common to the 

 northward, being but rarely found as far south as Colorado, and then 

 only in the higher mountains. 



Other blue joints deserving special mention are Scribuer's blue joint 

 {CaJamagrostis serihneri) and Suksdorf's blue-joint [G. sulsdorfii). 

 Both are northern in distribution, the latter being found in this region 

 only in central and western Montana and most abundant west of the 

 Continental Divide, and tbe former reaching down into central or rarely 

 into southern Wyoming and Colorado. Both have an altitudinal range 

 of about 3,000 feet, seldom occurring below 5,000 feet or above 8,000 

 feet in Wyoming and Montana. Suksdorf's blue joint, although reach- 

 ing its best development in the moist land of the valleys, is often found 

 on the drier ridges and mountain sides. 



NATIVE PASTURE GRASSES. 



Naturally much the greater portion of the grass land is used for 

 grazing. At the present time nearly all the land not under irrigation 

 is used for this purpose. This includes by far the larger part of the 

 upland prairies, the bad lands, tbe broken foothill country, and the 

 accessible mountainous country. 



Some of these pasture lands, notably those in the mountains and 

 higher foothills, can be used during only a portion of the year, but the 

 remainder are grazed through the entire year. In some localities cer- 

 tain portions of the range are protected during the growing season in 

 order that the grass may make a good growth and furnish forage for 

 fall aiul winter grazing. Sometimes the stock is kept from these areas 

 by fencing, but often the ranchmen, by common consent, keej) the 

 stock on other ranges during the summer, and bring it to the protected 

 areas only when forced to do so by the approach of severe winter 

 weather. In localities where the meadow lands and winter pastures 

 are fenced in, the open range is usually in very bad condition. Every 

 ranchman is eager to get his " share" of the oi)en and free range, and 

 naturally turns out all his stock during the summer. As a result, 

 the grasses and better forage plants are eaten up or trampled into 

 the ground before the end of the season. What wonder that the 

 grasses are dying out on the o])en range! The wonder is that they 

 have survived as long as they have. During the past season, while 

 making wagon trips through the Belle Fourche and Big Horn Basin 

 countiies, it was often necessary to drive many miles in order to find 

 sul'licient ])asturage for the team. All tlie grass lands not under fence 

 "were ] ticked bare in July and August, and it was imi)ossible to get 

 feed along the trail except by obtaining permission of the ranchers to 

 cami) inside the inclosures. Of course the grasses are l)eing pre- 



