SUMMARY AND SUGGESTIONS. 45 



enact a law providing- for the destruction of these "unbranded wild" 

 animals. During- the past three years thousands of these horses have 

 been shipped out of the country (PI. VIII, fig. 2), thereby relieving 

 the situation very much; but there are still altogether too many of 

 them on the ranges. The quantity of range feed consumed by a good 

 animal is no more than that eaten by one of these almost worthless 



'• cayuses." 



NATIVE GRASSES WORTHY OF CULTIVATION. 



Wild wheat [Elymus triticoides). — It appears to the writer that wild 

 wheat is worthy of extended trial under cultivation. It is promising 

 in stiff soils where there is considerable moisture up to the middle of 

 June. It is also of some promise for holding clay banks which wash 

 badly in the more humid regions. 



Bunch Uuegrass {Poa laevigata). — The large quantity of excellent 

 hay made of this grass all through the region traversed, as well as 

 its good seed habits, make it a promising plant for cultivation. 



Short-awned brome (Bromus marginatus). — In the highland region 

 there is no native plant that gives more promise than this. At the 

 present time large quantities of it are common all through the moun- 

 tains in poorly cultivated fields. In Fox Valley several fields of cheat 

 were seen where one-half of the yield consisted of this native species. 

 When cut in season the quality is good, and its seed habits are excel 

 lent, resembling those of rescue grass more closely than any of the 

 cultivated species of this genus. 



Mountain rye grass (Elym us glaucus). — Observations in mountainous 

 regions tend to indicate that this species is of some promise. Several 

 limited areas in the Blue and the Warner mountains suggest that it 

 might be made use of in cultivation. A careful examination into the 

 conditions in the Rocky Mountains, especially in the vicinity of Sum- 

 mit, Mont., strongly confirms this opinion. 



Bunch wheat grass (Ag r< >py r< > n xptcatum inerme). — The importance 

 of this grass on the native ranges and the successful attempts which 

 have already been made to grow it leave little doubt as to its value for 

 cultivation, although the hay made from it is rather hard and wiry. 

 Its value as a pasture plant may be questioned on account of its ina- 

 bility to withstand trampling. Some ranchers stoutly maintain that 

 when once closely grazed it will not recover in a reasonable length of 

 time. 



Giant rye </russ (Elymus cona\ nsatus). — The excellent seed habits of 

 giant rye grass, its large yield, and its ability to thrive on stilt', hard- 

 pan soil along with salt grass render it of considerable promise for 

 cultivation, especially in the Great Basin region. 



