28 FIELD WORK OF DIVISION OF AGEOSTOLOGY. 



WORK DONE. 



The work here was coinnienced in the season of 1895 b}^ ]\lr. P. A. 

 Rydberg and the writer. Only a general survey of the region was 

 attempted, as it was considered desira])le to first secure a knowledge 

 of the main features of the conditions and problems as a ])asis for 

 more thorough work. During the investigations the following points 

 were visited, beside those in Nebraska which have been referred to in 

 discussing the Great Plains region: Green River, Wj'oming; Beaver 

 Canyon, Idaho; Lima, Red Rock, Dillon, Melrose, Silver Bow, Deer 

 Lodge, Garrison, Helena, Townsend, Logan, Manhattan, Bozeman, and 

 Butte, Mont. ; Logan and Echo, Utah; Denver, Golden, Idaho Springs, 

 Georgetown, Silver Plume, Boulder, and La Salle, Colo. The results 

 of this work were published in Bulletin No. 5, "A Report upon the 

 Grasses and Forage Plants of the Rock}^ Mountain Region.'' The fol- 

 lowing lines of work were given especial attention: Fii-st, making a 

 collection of all the grasses and forage plants met with and taking 

 notes regarding their abundance, distribution, forage value, and prob- 

 able adaptability to cultivation; second, an examination of the meadows 

 and ranges as to their present condition and the securing of all possible 

 information reo'ardino- their former condition. A large collection of 

 seeds, sheaves, and roots was also made. The mmiljer of specimens 

 secured was over 1,000, among which were grasses which had not 

 before been collected or described. 



Under the head of "Field notes and general observations" the 

 various places visited were discussed and the more important grasses 

 mentioned. Under the head of ""Grasses deserving special mention" 

 a list was given of the most important native species, with notes on 

 their characteristics and the particular uses to which they were best 

 adapted. The great importance of many of these species was indi- 

 cated and the desirability of introducing them into cultivation was 

 pointed out. 



Durino- the same season Mr. E. R. Chase did some field work for 

 the Division in Utah, at Brigham City and vicinity. He gave special 

 attention to the possibilities in the way of cultivating the native 

 grasses and forage plants and the collection of seeds and sheaves of 

 the more important species. 



In 1896 the work in this region was extended and ^'igor()usly pushed. 

 Mr. P. A. Rydberg continued the work in Montana. Equipping him- 

 self with a camping outfit at Bozeman, in the southern part of the 

 State, he made an extended trip overland through the moimtain regions 

 to the northward, making an especially careful study of the forage 

 resources of the region. He made a large collection of specimens and 

 seeds, with notes on the conditions and problems. 



It is only ])y the careful work which can be done by this method of 

 travelino- that a thorouoh studv can be made of the actual condition 



