LETTER OF TRANSMriTAL 



tJ, S. Department of AaRiciiLTURE, 



Division oe Agrostology, 



Waslimgton, D. C, June 29^ 1S9S. 

 Sir: I have the honor to tiausniit lierewith and recommend for 

 pnblication as Bulletin No. 13 of this Division a report by Prof. Aven 

 Nelson on The lied Desert of Wyoming and its Forage Resources, 

 l)repared in accordance with the instructions of the Agrostologist. 

 The Bed Desert region of Wyoming is a waterless and nearly treeless 

 area. During the summer season it is practically uninhabitable, and 

 a visitor at this time would doubt very much whether the region could 

 be utilized in any way, especially as a stock range, but as a matter of 

 fact this Red Desert actually affords excellejit winter pasturage. Here 

 are fed the herds and tiocks of adjacent summer ranges, and many of 

 the stockmen in northwestern Colorado, eastern Utah, and southern 

 Idaho And in this region a desirable place to winter their stock, espe- 

 cially their sheep. So far as I am aware, we have in this report the 

 first presentation of the value of the Red Desert and other similar 

 regions which occur in the interior of all large continents as ranges 

 for stock, and the account given of the various forage plants npon 

 which thousands of cattle and sheep graze during the winter months 

 can not fail to be of interest. Among these plants which aftbrd nutri- 

 tious food and apparently thrive in the driest climates and in strongly 

 alkaline soil there are doubtless varieties that are well deserving of 

 propagation, and by their cultivation land now totally waste may be 

 rendered valuable. 



Respectfully, F. Lamson-Scribner, 



Ayroatologist. 

 Hon. James Wilson, 



Secretary of Ayriculture. 



