28 STOCK-POISOKING PLANTS OF MONTANA. 



they are being driven for long- distances, especially if the course of 

 the drive lies in territory that is known to contain poisonous plants. 

 A herder in front of the band might readily detect the presence of 

 poisonous plants upon the range and direct the sheep to one side or 

 the other of this dangerous area. The herder who followed the band 

 might cooperate with the herder in the lead in such a wav as to pre- 

 vent the sheep from becoming too closely packed together. 



INFLUENCE OF HUNGER. 



The feeding movements of sheep and cattle are umch influenced by 

 the condition of the stomach, whether full or empty. It is a well- 

 known fact that ruminants do not feel at ease as long as the stomach 

 is not full. Consequently, where good forage is not present they eat 

 anj'^thing that may be obtained, including man}' noxious plants, and 

 this is especiall}^ true of sheep. Eating whatever is in sight, and as 

 rapidly as possible, they are liable to consume large quantities of 

 plants of kinds which when taken in small quantities are not harmful, 

 but which in large amounts may produce serious disturbance. A gen- 

 eral rule to be observed in grazing is, therefore, that sheep in a starved 

 or ravenously hungry condition should not be turned upon a range 

 which is known to contain poisonous plants. The disastrous conse- 

 quences of neglecting this rule are most frequently experienced by 

 men who are shipping sheep long distances b}" railway. As is well 

 known, the sheep are taken ofl^' from the cars for food at rather long 

 intervals and at such times they are always ravenously hungry. It 

 usually happens, also, that they are not acquainted with the plants of 

 localities where the}' are unloaded for feeding. Serious losses result 

 from allowing them to feed under such circumstances without first 

 inspecting the ground for the presence of poisonous plants. 



ACCLIMATIZATION OF STOCK TO THE RANGE. 



From the experience of sheep raisers, so far as ascertained, and from 

 observations made in the held during the season of 1900, it is impos- 

 sible to conclude with certainty that sheep learn by long acquaintance 

 with a given range to avoid all plants of a poisonous nature. It seems 

 certain, however, that on any particular range less poisoning occurs 

 among sheep which are familiar with the range than with strange 

 sheep. This statement is supported by the experience of a majority 

 of sheep raisers as being true for all plants of a poisonous nature 

 except loco. The eating of loco plants seems to be a habit, and on 

 ranges where these plants are abundant it is safe to graze only such 

 sheep as are unacquainted with the plants, or have never ac(|uired the 

 habit of eating them. 



