MAN'S DISORDER OF NATURE'S DESIGN — ALBERTSON St I 



Dormant prairie forage is low in succulence and usually low in 

 protein content; hence good rangeland should have at least some 

 green herbage throughout the growing season. The chemical com- 

 position of prairie grasses has been found to vary significantly 

 especially in early spring as compared to late fall. 



It is well, perhaps, to bring this paper to a close by pointing out 

 the fact that what has been done on the prairies at Hays and else- 

 where may serve only as a foundation for greater and more detailed 

 work. These investigations on the vegetation of the mixed prairie 

 and high plains are most refreshing both to the college instructor and 

 to the college students. An opportunity is provided to take the 

 student to the prairie or, when this is impossible, the prairie is taken 

 to tlie student through exhibits of one type or another. It is hoped 

 by this means to bring together the great out-of-doors on the one 

 hand and the student of nature on the other. 



The vegetation of the Great Plains, a vast area of reserve sunshine, 

 of potential beefsteak, of exquisite beauty, has slowly come to us 

 through past ages, and from what we know at the present time these 

 prairies are best preserved through moderate use. The cover of vege- 

 tation that is used to build and f)rotect the soil approaches a maximum 

 under moderate use. Also a maximum yield of first-class herbage 

 is thus provided and, finally, there is preserved the beauty in the ever- 

 changing panorama of flowers and color of foliage from one aspect 

 to another as each season progresses. 



Nature, indeed, has designed in our prairies a most wonderful soil 

 builder and soil protector. It is necessary, of course, to cultivate 

 the most level portion for the production of wheat and other cereals. 

 Wlien cultivation is practiced, however, it should be done in such a 

 manner that high productivity of the soil may be maintained. There 

 are vast stretches of native prairie that have been put under culti- 

 vation during recent years. Some cultivation has been practiced 

 on areas of broken topography where erosion is likely to become 

 serious in a few years. 



One of the major problems that is now confronting the farmer 

 of the high plains is how best to reseed to native grass a portion of 

 his land under cultivation. If an adequate supply of grass seed and 

 seed of other plants can be maintained and if techniques of seedbed 

 preparation and reseeding can be improved, it might be possible 

 eventually to grow native grass in a long-time rotation. 



It should be the policy of all who live and work in the plains region 

 to learn more of its proper use and, at the same time, how to preserve 

 its beauty. We must have bread made from its wheat but also we 

 should enjoy its beauty — for "man does not live by bread alone." 



