54 Wyoniifig Experiment Station. 



to Bessemer, passing in turn Douglas, Glenrock and Cas- 

 per. From Bessemer, Poison Spider Creek was followed 

 to its head near Garfield Peak in the Rattlesnake Moun- 

 tains. Camp for a day was made on Wallace Creek at the 

 foot of the peak. Up to that date, July 29, this was 

 the richest collecting ground so far encountered. 

 The road from there to the Big Popo Agie river lay 

 across a barren desert, whose few streams were dry and 

 the occasional springs mere mud holes, strongly impreg- 

 nated with alkali. 



The evening of July 30, caught us at Alkali Springs, 

 a bog so densely impregnated with salt that only the almost 

 famished horses could swallow a mouthful, and to one or 

 two of the animals the draught came near proving fatal. 

 There was no grass except an occasional stalk of salt- 

 marsh gvdiSS-Distic/dis maritima ^nd Triglochin niaritima. 

 Thirsty as every member of the party was, after an all 

 day's drive on the burning plain, not even coffee made 

 from such water could be swallowed. Just at sunset a 

 diminutive shower fell, and a dusty wagon sheet was 

 called into service to catch the precious drops. As the 

 little pool formed in the sagging center of the canvas 

 what delicious draughts of nectar, thickened with the dust 

 of many days, were dipped up with the old tin cups. 



At four o'clock next morning, breakfastless, the 

 party started for Beaver Creek, twelve miles distant. 

 Breakfasting here where water was good and abundant, 

 even the weakened horses were somewhat revived, though 

 feed was still very scarce. Early in the afternoon 

 the Big Popo Agie was reached by hard effort, and 

 here three days were spent in camp to allow the sick 

 and famished horses to recuperate. Water and grass 



