PLANTS INJURIOUS T<) STOCK. T)^) 



lands; indeod, it may l)o a decided heiu'tit. 80 far as known, it does 

 not occur in tho soutliorn part of Arizona at all. 



Cleome serrata has become very conspicuous upon the poorly 

 grassed areas of overflowed depressions throughout the northern high- 

 lands. By some this plant is said to be relished l)y sheep, hut evidences 

 of this have not been seen. It is especially abundant in the vicinity of 

 Flagstaff and uix)n the northern slope of the White ^Mountains. 



In the southern portion of Arizona th(>re are two perennial weeds 

 related to the golden rods which it is claimed ari^ spreading rapidly. 

 These are hocoma ooranojnfoVia and Gutierrena microcephaht. They 

 are very abundant in portions of the Santa Cruz and Altar valleys. 



Upon the cultivated meadows the squirrel-tail grass is very trouble- 

 some and unsightly in irrigated districts. In pastures, however, it is 

 of little or no detriment, for it is usually prevented from becoming 

 conspicuous by the close grazing which is usually practiced upon the 

 alfalfa pastures. It is interesting to note that in the Salt and Gila 

 vallevs TTordeum mvrimnn is the prevalent species, while II, jiibafiiw, 

 which has such a l)ad record in the Plains region, has not been 

 observed. In the valley of the Little Colorado, however, this species 

 is nearly if not (piite absent, wdiile IJinuleunt juhntwii is very common 

 and even troublesome in the cultivated fields. 



PLANTS INJURIOUS TO STOCK. 



There are times during years of short feed when the creosote bush 

 {Covillea trldentata) causes a good deal of injury to sheep. No stock 

 of any kind eat this shru!) ordinarily, but when feed is scarce sheep 

 are sometimes forcml to feed upon it. According to a recent report 

 from Mr. E. S. Gosney, of Flagstaff, the animals, after feeding upon 

 this shrub for a time, run about in an unsteady fashion, and are very 

 likely to run into any obstacle wdiich happens to be in their way. 

 They are said to very often run toward, the herder, or even his dogs, 

 as though seeking protection. Mr. W. H. Campbell, also of Flag- 

 staff, who has had a good deal of experience upon the deserts north of 

 Phoenix, states that the greatest mortality occurs among pregnant 



ewes. 



Upon the San Francisco and contiguous highlands there occurs a 

 great deal of loco {Ar((<j<(Uus JamherfU), and in some cases in the same 

 region areas are said to hav^e been abandoned as sheep grazing grounds 

 on account of the preponderance of Asdepiodora decunibens. 



Mechanical injury is sometimes done by six weeks' grass {Bouteloua 

 aristidoides) and triple-awned grass [Aristida americmia). When 

 matured the seeds of these two species are very annoying, to say the 

 least, to both men and animals. The sharp-pointed seeds work into 

 both the fleece and the feet of sheep, but are more especially injurious 

 to the latter. They accunuilate between the hoofs of the animals to 



