72 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. 



that the investigations are of great importance. In the cereal investi- 

 gations the work will be continued practically on the same lines as 

 last year. The investigations regarding wheat varieties will consist in 

 straightening out, as much as possible, the confusion now existing in 

 names of varieties of wheat by photographing standard variety types 

 and giving list of synonyms, together with descriptions of all types 

 described. If possible, Pacific coast wheats will be studied and a col- 

 lection of these types added to the one already named. The work on 

 commercial grades of grain will be a continuation of the collection 

 and analysis of the samples of grades, together with a further study 

 of methods of work in vogue at the various export ports and larger 

 grain centers. It is hoped that the results of this portion of the work 

 may be prepared for publication before the close of the present fiscal 

 year, and that this publication may include not only a proposed 

 accurate basis for commercially grading corn, but may also give an 

 idea of the varied types and comparative qualities of our cereal grades, 

 together with the results of studies as to causes of the deterioration 

 of corn in transit and storage. 



GRASS AND FORAGE PLANT INVESTIGATIONS. 



There is widespread interest in the work on grass and forage plants, 

 and during the year investigations in this field have been consider- 

 ably broadened. Prof. W. J. Spillman, the Agrostologist, reports on 

 the following lines of work under his charge: 



RANGE IMPROVEMENT. 



Studies relating to range improvement have been continued during 

 the past year with the cooperation of stockmen and others interested 

 in range problems. This work has, for the most part, been in charge 

 of Mr. David Griffiths, who has explored range areas in a number of 

 western States and Territories. The principal objects aimed at in 

 these explorations are to ascertain what methods of range manage- 

 ment are conducive to best results, to study the effects of various 

 classes of stock on range conditions, to study the native vegetation 

 with a view to protecting and propagating that which is valuable, and 

 to study the relation of denudation to surface washing, with a view 

 to preventing such washing. More than 1,000,000 square miles of the 

 public domain, because of deficient rainfall, are suitable only for 

 grazing. This area formerly supported great herds of wild animals, 

 and later of horses, cattle, and sheep. As long as the ranges fur- 

 nished both summer and winter subsistence, the native forage plants 

 flourished. The amount of stock the ranges could support being 

 limited by the supply of winter forage, the summer growth was suffi- 

 cient to i^roduce abundant seed. But with the introduction of hay 

 farming in such localities as were suitable, and the use of this hay 

 for winter food for stock, the amount of stock increased till, in many 

 parts of the range area, the summer growth of grass and other forage 

 was completely consumed. Lack of opportunity to produce seed, 

 together with the excessive trampling of increased herds, has led to 

 rapid deterioration of the ranges. Investigations are now in progress 

 with a view to ascertaining the amount of stock various sections of 

 the range country can support without injury to the native vegeta- 

 tion. Arrangements are nearly completed for fencing an area large 

 enough to be handled as an actual range. The amount of money 



