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intended to include only tliose tliat are of first importance either 

 because of the large amount of forage produced or because of tbeir 

 great nutritive value and those that give promise of good results under 

 cultivation. They are here arranged rather in the order of importance 

 for the two regions: (1) Vegetation of the desert, or winter, range (see 

 PI. 1); and (2) vegetation of the hill country, or summer, range (see PI. 

 IT, tig. 2). 



VEGETATION OF THE DESERT, OR W^INTER, RANGE. 

 (1) The Salt-Sages.— The salt-sages rank first in the amount of for- 

 age produced, and, judging by the number of cattle supi)orted on 

 the winter pastures and the reported fine condition of the stock, 

 these plants possess high nutritive value. 

 NuTTALL's Salt-sage {AtripUx nuitalUi S. Wats.).— Of the several 

 species, this stands first in the matter of distribution. It is found 

 nearly everywhere except on the most pronouncedly alkali ground. 

 It belongs not only to this desert and this State but is the most 

 generally distributed salt-sage of the entire arid west. It is the 

 sheepman's most highly-prized winter forage, and certainly here 

 furnishes one half of the whole supply. Sheep thrive upon it both 

 when it is green and also in the winter after it has cured upon the 

 ground. It is a perennial with a woody base, calculated to endure 

 severe pasturing and much trampling. It is each year eaten down 

 to the ground, leaving only the woody base. It produces seed in 

 abundance, which is greedily eaten, and this probably accounts for 

 its high nutritive value. It seems unsuited for cultivation, except 

 where a i)erennial ])asture is desired, on account of its woody char- 

 acter and slow growth, but where well established it is a source 

 of much feed for all kinds of stock and should not be carelessly 

 destroyed. 

 Nelson's Salt-sage {Airiplex pabnlaris A. Nels.).— This new species 

 seems to be a form of great promise as a forage plant. Like the 

 preceding, it is a perennial, but the woody base is almost wholly 

 underground. The herbaceous stems are i)roduced in much greater 

 abundance, forming often a close, continuous, erect growth. So far 

 as known it is not widely distributed, being confined to strongly 

 saline areas, such as the Hats adjacent to Bitter Creek and its tribu- 

 tarii's and the dry beds of alkali basins. It fruits freely, makes a 

 considerable annual growth, and is certainly worthy of trial with 

 a view to forming a permanent i)asture on otherwise valueless 

 alkali ground. Its habit of growth would also make it i>ossihle to 

 harvest it by the methods applicable to the grasses. Slieepmen 

 unite in ])ronouiiciiig it prime forage. 

 TuMnLTN(^ Salt-sage {Airiplex rolutans A, Nels., PI. Ill, fig. 2).— 

 This heretofore overlooked annual may prove a more valuable ]>lant 

 for certain alkali soils than any of the f-ireign species that have 

 been so highly recommended, it is a plant of rank growth, and 



