50 PASTURE AND RANGE. 



fourth during the first week. They found further that 

 the number of losses is not reduced by admitting the cat- 

 tle to the field for a short time only at first; also that a 

 supply of feed in addition to the stalks makes very little 

 difference. The further fact was established that animals 

 which have contracted the disease very rarely recover. 



The cause is still a mystery. The trouble is believed 

 by many to be similar to forage poisoning, which comes 

 from eating mouldy and immature corn or other similar 

 fodder. There is a fundamental difference, however, in 

 the fact that cornstalk disease attacks cattle, while forage 

 poisoning is confined to horses and mules. 



The danger seems to be obviated by cutting the corn- 

 stalks when ripe and shocking them. No remedy has 

 been found for the disease when once contracted. 



LILY FAMILY Liliaceae. 



DEATH CAMAS Zygadenus venenosus Kydb. 



Other Common Names: Poison Onion, Poison Lily, 

 Poison Sego, Poison Camas, Hog Potato, Mystery Grass, 

 Alkali Grass and improperly Lobelia. 



Early explorers in Western Canada learned of the 

 poisonous nature of this plant from the Indians, who had 

 suffered by mistaking its bulbs for those of 

 Poisoning Camas and Wild Sego, which they used 

 for food. People are still sometimes pois- 

 oned in the same way, but the chief harm is done to ani- 

 mals, especially sheep, on the western ranges. In early 

 spring before the herbage is plentiful, the succulent, 

 grass-like leaves look very inviting and are greedily eaten 

 by sheep in spite of their somewhat bitter taste. The 

 onion-like bulbs are equally poisonous, but are not pulled 



