72 



tion of land already under cultivation, "but water would also be pro- 

 vided for stock in places convenient to the grazing lands, and niucU of 

 the injmy to the range due to excessive trampling would be avoided. 

 As the laws governing the distribution of water for irrigation become 

 better understood and more justly applied much of the present une- 

 qual distribution of the water from the running streams will be cor- 

 rected, and stock will be better supplied with drinking water and 

 more forage will be produced. Under the present conditions one may 

 frequently see a man injuring his meadows and fields by using too 

 much water, while those of his neighbor some n^.iles down the valley 

 are suffering, perhaps totally ruined, for lack of water. 



In a region varying so widely in soil aud climatic conditions it is not 

 to be expected that any one or two grasses or forage plants can be 

 introduced to meet all the requirements. Timothy, redtop, alfalfa, and 

 other of the commoner "tame" sorts have shown tlieinselves admirably 

 adapted for certain localities. Smooth brome is being used with tine 

 success in some of the drier sections. But other varieties are needed, 

 and the only way to select them is through careful experimentation. 

 It is not neces ary that these experiments shonld be elaborate. 

 Each rancher should test one or two of the hardy grasses or forage 

 plants in a small way each season, and thus determine for himself what 

 kinds are best adapted to his needs and to the conditions prevailing in 

 his locality. 



These experiments should not be confined to ''tame" or introduced 

 sorts, but should be extended to desirable native kinds, such as have 

 been mentioned in the preceding pages. There is no locality without 

 native grasses or forage plants tliat are worthy of trial under cultiva- 

 tion, aud anyone can, with but little trouble, obtain enongh seed for 

 such a test. Some farmers are already following this phm, and while 

 some attempts meet with failure, others give very encouraging results — 

 so mu(;h so that the groat value of some of the native species is clearly 

 demonstrated for certain localities, and in some cases the seed is being 

 placed on. the market, as for example, slender wheat-grass {Ayropi/ron 

 tenerum) and reed canary-grass [Plialaris arumUnacea). It is extremely 

 likely that there are native varieties of grasses and clovers which will 

 be found to be well adai)ted for cultivation above the altitudinal limits 

 of timothy, alfalfa, and other of the commonly cultivated grass and 

 forage crops. Among such may be mentioned Nevada blue grass ( /\<a 

 ncvadensi.s), Wyoming blue grass (/*. ivliceleri), rough-leafed bent 

 [A<jrostis (iHpeHfoUn), mountain foxtail {Alopccurus oceidentalis), short- 

 awned brome {Bromus breriaristaUis), western brome {B.innnpeUianm)^ 

 Beckwith's clover {Trifoliiim hecl-withii), nud long stalked clover ( 7'. 

 loufjipefs). 



As a general rule ranchmen a-^sert that the only treatment recjuired 

 for the restoration of the range is rest, but this under the i)rescnt con- 

 ditions is practically an imi)ossibility. IMoreover, in some localities the 



