36 FIELD WORK OF DIVISION OF AGROSTOLOGY. 



larly cultivated in tiiis reoion. The native clovers, vetches, and hipinos, 

 as well as rushes, sedges, and other miscellaneous native foraj^e plants, 

 arc also g-iven considerable attention. The number of plants in this 

 region, which have a greater or less degree of importance as forage 

 plants, is particularly large, and there is no apparent reason Avhy, by 

 proper preservation and care of the natural fo'-age resources, there 

 should not be produced an abundant supply for all present needs. 



The ])ulletin closes with a chapter on " Improvement of the ranges," 

 in which the necessity of establishing some system of control, which 

 shall allow each person the exclusive right to graze his stock on a 

 given piece of land/ is emphasized. Some of the evils of the present 

 system, or rather lack of system, in the management of the free range 

 are indicated. The importance of the conservation of the rainfall is 

 also mentioned, and the desirability of providing reservoirs or tanks 

 at convenient intervals for supplying stock with water, thus avoiding 

 the necessity of their tramping long distances is pointed out. In speak- 

 ing of the desirability of experimenting with grasses, for the purpose 

 of selecting and securing varieties adai)ted to the different soil and cli- 

 matic conditions of this region, the following advice is given: 



These experiments should not be i-onlined to the tame or introduced sorts, Imt 

 should be extended to desirable native kinds, such as have been mentioned in the 

 preceding pages. There is no locality without grasses or forage plants worthy of 

 trial under cultivation, and when one can, with but little trouble, obtain enough seed 

 for such a test. 



As a means of restricting the ranges in case the grasses have not 

 been too largely exterminated a period of rest is reconuuended. This 

 gives the grasses opportunity to produce seed and regain their vigor. 

 The great value of disk harrowing and also of alternate grazing is 

 mentioned.. 



In 1898 the writer, accompanied by Mr. Ernst A. Bessey, made a 

 thorough investigation of the grass and forage condition of northern 

 Colorado. A team and camping outtit were secured at Wolcott. on 

 the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad. From this point we proceeded 

 northward on the road to Steamboat Springs. Stops were made at 

 various points, collections of the varioits grasses and foragi^ plants were 

 made, and nmch information regarding range conditions and manage- 

 ment secured. In the Bear River Valley, between Yampa and Steam- 

 l)oat Springs, there are considerable areas of meadow lands, which 

 produce, in favorable seasons, large crops of excellent hay. The most 

 prominent grasses are the blue grasses, especially Poa Imvlgata, hair 

 grass {Deschampsia ccesjntosa). sheep's fescue {Feduca ovlna), alkali 

 meadow grass {PucchielUa alroldex) and wire grass {Jimcas halticus). 

 Considerable alfalfa is grown for winter feed at this altitude. 



From Steamboat Springs we continued east, crossing the Park 

 range and investigating the mountain pastures and meadows. Near 



