ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION. 29 



of tlie various portions of thi^ ran^v aiul its forage resources. In this 

 way the field worker comes into direct contact also with the ranchers 

 and stockmen and secures at first hand information reo-arding- previous 

 conditions and treatment of the ranges, and also the views of these 

 persons as to the best method of meeting the problems presented. 

 During the same season Mr. F, E. Clements and the writer spent 

 nearly three months working in Colorado. As the results of this work 

 have never been pul)lished, it may be best to give an outline of the 

 work done. and the results accomplished. Work was commenced in 

 the Pike's Peak region in the vicinity of Colorado Sj^rings. The for- 

 age plants of the region were collected and notes taken regarding 

 theii" abundance and value. The range lands on the mesa and in the 

 mountains were investigated. As a result of the prevailing arid con- 

 ditions and overstocking, the pastures on the mesa and in the foothills 

 are very poor. The most important grasses are the grama grasses 

 {Bouteloua oligostachya and B. Ji/rsuta)^ the first being the most abun- 

 dant and important, as it is about the last to succumi) to harsh treat- 

 ment. As the better grasses are destroyed their places are largely 

 occupied by species of less value and of weed}- proclivities, such as 

 little drop seed {Sjxj7'ol(d(c.s dejxn/jkiratus) and th(; triple awns {Ar/Mida 

 spp.). Some areas of excellent mountain pastures are to be found in 

 the higher altitudes, especially in the vicinity of Seven Lakes. The 

 bulk of the forage here consists of sheep's fescue {Festuca omna)^ with 

 .occasional small areas of tufted hair grass {DescJia'mpsM aespitosa) and 

 alpine timothy {rhlemn. alpmum). In the wetter portions about the 

 lakes species of Ca/rex and Eleocharls predominate. The greater por- 

 tion of the timbered areas and open mountain sides in this vicinity 

 produce very little forage. 



The next point visited was Walscnburg. The soil on the plains here 

 is rather sandy. The whole region was formerly an inmiense cattle 

 range, which has been largel}" abandoned during recent years. Here 

 as elsewhere the prevailing and most important pasture grass is the 

 blue grama. It is very thin and scattered, however, owing to the 

 overstocking of the pastures, which has been carried on until recently. 

 If given proper opportunity to recover, there is little doubt but that 

 this grass will rapidly spread and largely restoi-e the range. A con- 

 siderable lamiber of other species occur in the thickets along the bor- 

 ders of streams and cultivated lands, but not in sufficient (quantity to 

 be of much economic importance. In the vicinity of the alkali lakes 

 near Walsenburg, alkali meadow grass {Paccinella airoides) is rather 

 abundant, and furnishes considerable forage, though it is notso well liked 

 by stock as many other grasses. It possesses, however, alkali resistant 

 qualitie-^, which enable it to grow in soils which l)etter grasses can not 

 endure. The work was continued u]) the valley of the Cuchara to La 

 Veta, where there are some excellent mcadoAV lands. A good oppor- 



