69 



GUEASEWOOD. 



Anotlier plant of great value for fornge on dry, gterile, strongly alka- 

 line soil is greasewood {tS(ircob((tus vermieulatus). (See tigs. 3 and 29.) It 

 is more or less abundant throughout the entire region and is of especial 

 importance in the bad lands and in sterile, broken areas on bluffs along 

 the streams, and on the so called "black alkali" spots in the valleys 

 and plains. It is a scraggy, thorny shrub from 2 to 10 feet high, with 

 fleshy, succulent leaves, and usually prodnces an abundance of frnit. ■ 

 The leaves, fruit, and young shoots are eaten by stock to such an . 





Fig. 28.— Winterfat (Eurotia lanata). 



Fig. 29. — Greasewood (SarcohaUis vermiciilattis). 



extent that in some localities the plants are kept so closely browsed as 

 to be ultimately destroyed. Under ordinary conditions this plant fur- 

 nishes a large amount of forage and is particularly valuable, since it 

 will thrive on soil that will not even produce sage-brush. As stated 

 elsewhere in this report, "sage-brush" land is easily subdued, and 

 under irrigation produces excellent crops of grain, alfalfa, etc., while 

 "greasewood" land is regarded as of but little agricultural value by 

 ranchers because of the quantity and character of the alkali contained 

 in it. 



MISCELLAXEOUS. 



Among other plants of weedy habit which add considerably to the 

 forage supply in some localities are the goosefoots or lambs-(iuarters 



