18 FORAGE CONDITIONS AND PROBLEMS. 



prominent on the high elevations. After reaching the Grand Coulee, 

 however, we were never out of sight of .sagebrush until the wheat 

 region west of Ritzville was reached. In many places on the lower, 

 well-drained slopes, there were large patches of giant rye grass (Ely- 

 mus condensatus), while bunch bluegrass (Poa laevigata) is of con- 

 siderable value on the lower portions of the depressions. 



The Grand Coulee, which crosses the Big Bend country from north 

 to south, is a deep gorge. 1 to 3 miles wide, and was the bed of 

 the Columbia River during the glacial period. The portions of this 

 coulee visited are in most cases very alkaline. In places there is some 

 seepage from the bluff's which has washed the salt out of the soil 

 over limited areas, and these produce good crops of hay. In the 

 vicinity of the numerous ponds only salt-loving plants are found. In 

 one place was seen a large area, half a section or more, covered with 

 creeping spike rush {Eleocharis palustr is), which was practically the 

 only forage plant growing in this hay meadow. In the vicinity of 

 the numerous ponds salt grass (Distychlis spicata) abounds, and 

 grease wood is always found a little farther from the ponds, while on 

 the better-drained lands the common sagebrush is the most conspicu- 

 ous vegetation everywhere. The saltbushes (Atrvplex spp.) are of 

 little account here as compared with the Great Basin region to the 

 south. As would be expected in such a formation and with such 

 physical features, conditions are quite variable. One runs into unex- 

 pected areas of grass in pockets in the bluffs where the vegetation is 

 wholly different from anything found for miles around. As an exam- 

 ple, might be mentioned a shelf -like recess in the bluffs on the north 

 side of the coulee, where there was an excellent stand of water foxtail 

 (Alopecurus geniculatus) covering an area 2 or 3 acres in extent. 

 Usually this grass is not abundant enough to attract much attention 

 anywhere. 



On nearly all of the ••scab" lands from here south along our route 

 to Trinidad, as well as at other points in the Kittitas and Wenas val- 

 leys west of the Columbia River, the black sage of the mountains 

 (Artemisia arbuscula) predominates over the common black sage of 

 the lower, more sandy soils. Here also there are large areas of the 

 valuable species of sage known to botanists as Artemisia rigida. This 

 differs from the other two closely related species in having finely 

 divided leaves and in being relished by stock, more especially by 

 horses and sheep. It was especially abundant at Trinidad, on the 

 western exposure of the Kittitas Valley, between Ephrata and Moses 

 lakes, and in the vicinity of Lyons Ferry. In all of th >se localities it 

 showed evidences of being grazed during the past winter. 



As far as observed, the areas which have been opened up to wheat 

 culture are not particularly sagebrush lands. On the contrary, they 

 are what is commonly known as bunch grass (Agropyron spicatum) 



