THE PACIFIC COAST. 58 



Mr. Lockenbv h;i.s spent eonsideralilo tiino in the study of the sand 

 dunes on the Oreaoii coast at the mouth of the Coluni])ia River, and 

 south as far as Seaside. Professor Seribner has also investi(j;at(Hl the 

 sand dunes in this same vicinity and at various points in California, 

 especially at Los Angeles, San Francisco, and points northward. The 

 most thorough and extended investigations in this region have been 

 made in northwestern California, by Mr. J. Burt Davy, special agent 

 of the Division. His investigations covered the region included in 

 the counties of Lake, Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity, Del Norte, and 

 the western part of Siskiyou. Mr. Davy made a very careful and thor- 

 ough study of the conditions and problems in this region, and has pre- 

 pared a comprehensive report of the whole subject, which is nearl}^ 

 readv for the press. The writer has also done some field work in this 

 region. Work was done in connection with Mr. Leckenby and Pro- 

 fessor Scribner at Seaside and Gearhart where the sand dunes and the 

 native sand binders were studied and quantities of seed collected. 

 Work was also done in the vicinity of Portland and McMinnville, also 

 at San Francisco and vicinity. Very little investigation of the ranges 

 of this region has been made, except b}" Mr. Davy. He reports the 

 rano-os of northwestern California greatlv deteriorated on account of 

 overstocking and injudicious methods of grazing. This has been car- 

 ried on to such an extent that most of the forage at present found on 

 the range consists of introduced plants which have taken possession of 

 the land since the destruction of the native grasses and forage plants. 

 Fortunately these introduced species have some forage value. They 

 are chiefly soft chess (Bromus Jumieaceus)^ alfilaria {Erodimn spp.), 

 and wild oats {Avena^ probably^, harlxitd). The wild oats, however, is 

 said to be much less common than formerly. Of the native grasses 

 species of wild rye {Elymus spp.), brome grasses {Broirms spp.), hair 

 gvfvsHQH{I)escham2)f^w spp.) wild-oat grass {Dantlumki sp.), prairie June 

 grass {K(de7'ia sp.), and fescues {Festuca spp.) are now to be found 

 only in Y)rotected situations, though they were probably, as Mr. Dav}" 

 points out, nuich more alnindant formerly. Several native species of 

 clover {Tri folium spp.) are also valuable for forage. The restoration 

 of the ranges here, as elsewhere, must depend upon proper and con- 

 tinuous treatment. Where the nativ^e grasses have been practically 

 exterminated seeding with some of these or with introduced species 

 adapted to the conditions will probably be necessary. In other 

 instances, allowing the range a period of rest or alternate periods of 

 grazing and rest, thus giving the plants an opportunity to produce 

 seed, will produce l)eneficial results. Where dair^dng is carried on 

 cultivated forage plants are depended on largeh" for grazing and ha,y. 

 Oats and wheat are most extensivel}'^ grown for hay. In western 

 Oregon considerable chess {BrormiH i^ecalioms) is grown for hay, also 

 the ray grasses {Lolium spp.). while velvet grass {IIolcus lanatas) is 



