PROGRESS OF THE RANGE BUSINESS 57 



true salt grass of this region is Distichlis spicata, a light 

 soft-feeling grass seldom more than 6 inches in height 

 and of no great feeding value. It also is a very tough, 

 hardy grass. 



The Sages. These two grasses, grama and sacaton, 

 are the principal ones of the foothill region, but the for- 

 age is greatly augmented by the great sage family, es- 

 pecially the sweet sage or "winter fat" (Eurotia lanata), 

 which furnishes an unequaled feed for stock, especially 

 sheep and horses. There are many varieties of sage in 

 the southern ranges, nearly every one of which is eaten 

 by stock of every class. Salt sage (Atriplex)" is the one 

 most generally called by the generic name sage by stock- 

 men all over the West. There is another favorite forage 

 bush known as shad scale (Atriplex canescens) called esta- 

 fi-etta by the Mexican herders. To the ordinary observ- 

 er it would seem to be absolutely worthless, but it is 

 eagerly eaten by all stock, especially sheep. It furnishes 

 a great supply of dry husk-like seeds which the sheep 

 lick up from the ground, and even crawl on their knees 

 under the bushes in order to get them. 



Greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) is another 

 favorite browse well liked by most range animals. 



Prickly Pear (Opuntia). In the foothills of this re- 

 gion prickly pear furnishes an article of diet for the cat- 

 tle that in times of feed scarcity has saved many an old 

 cow. In feeding it, the stockmen go out on the ranges 

 armed with pitchforks and axes. By means of a lighted 

 torch or a forkful of weeds, bear grass or yucca leaves, 

 the sharp needles are singed off the broad leaves of the 

 pears and then the plant is cut up with the axe and 

 pitched to the cattle. Two men can thus feed a good 

 many poor cows in a day and while it acts on the bowels 



