CONDITION AND PLANTS OF THE RANGE. 21 



which grew here showed not a .single perennial and no annuals over 2 

 inches in height. These had apparently developed from seed during 

 the previous month, after the sheep had been moved to higher alti- 

 tudes. The reduction of a sedgy mountain meadow to an almost bare 

 surface, where nothing is to be found but stunted plants of Navarretia 

 breweri, TAnanihus harhnessii, knotweed {Polygonum douglasii), Eri- 

 i/nckium californicum, Matricaria discoidea, and burnet {Poterium 

 annuum), is a condition much to be deplored, and is certainly not con- 

 ducive to the best interests of the stock industry. In slice}) territory 

 it can be stated that there are few shrubs, aside from the snow brush 

 (Ceanothus veLuthius) and a few of the phloxes and gilias, in these 

 mountains which are not browsed; and the timber does not grow too 

 thick for sheep to graze in. Even the second growth of pine [Phi us 

 ponderosa) is browsed in many places. 



The forage plants, especially the grasses, do not differ materially 

 from those of the higher elevations in eastern Washington prcyiously 

 discussed. The conditions are mostly such as would be recognized 

 only by the critical student of grasses. Bluegrasses (Poa nevadensis, 

 P. ir/irr/r/'/\ P. mnrfbergii, and P. buckleyana), sheep fescue {Festuca 

 ovina in both its forms), bunch wheat grass (Agropyron spicatmri), 

 prairie June grass (KoeleHa crisbatd), short-awned brome {Bromus 

 marginatum), orchard barley {Sitanion longifolium), giant rye grass 

 (Elymus condensatus), tussock grass (Descham/psia csespitosa), and 

 needle grass (Stipa viridula and S. thurberiana) are the main species 

 on the open areas, while in upland shady places and in brush and tim- 

 ber areas are to be found a form of Kentucky bluegrass (Poapratensis), 

 downy oat grass {Trisetum subspicatum), oat grass (Danthonia cali- 

 jbrnica), melic grass (Melica subulata), and mountain rye grass (Ely- 

 ni us glaucus), together with pine grass ( ( urex geyt ri), which constitute 

 the main feed in these localities at an altitude of 4,r><M> to 6,000 feet. 

 On some of the bare, rocky slopes on the open range occurs some 

 clover (Trifolium pliimosum). This is seldom so abundant that seed 

 could be collected in quantity. Its strong root system and general 

 habit in barren soils would lead one to believe that it might be of some 

 value on the upland ranges if some method could he devised for its 

 propagation so that seed could be collected advantageously. Along all 

 the creeks and moist areas throughout the region fine feed is produced 

 by other species of native clovers (Trifolium beckwithii, T. cyathife- 

 rum, T. altissimum, and T. involucratum), while in the same localities 

 there are many species of sedges and rushes which are really of more 

 importance than the grasses in many situations. In these more moist 

 localities are also found mountain timothy {Phi cum alpinum) and 

 whitetop (Agrostis asperifolia). 



The numerous pastures in the vicinity of the settlements are used almosl 

 entirely for winter grazing, the stock feeding upon the open ranges dur- 



