Talbot's home camp. Even when all the surrounding country 

 had been devastated of all plant growth by repeated grazings, the 

 bright yellow flowers of this plant would be left untouched. It 

 verifies again the extreme distaste which sheep seem to have for 

 any member of the mustard family. The herders also are strong 

 in their expressions as to their value, using the phrase, "very 

 much no good," when questioned in regard to them. The same 

 might be said of the hedge mustard, yellow rocket, cress and 

 others which were also abundant. 



PHLOX FAMILY. 



(Polemoniaceae.) 

 SIERRA JACOB'S LADDER RATTLEWEED. 



(Polemonium humile, Willd.) 



PL. XIX. 



This plant was seen abundantly in the high Sierras. It is 

 usually found in somewhat shady situations in open forests, where 

 it spreads by means of its underground stems, forming patches 

 which sometimes cover the ground quite closely. Although a 

 succulent and, tempting looking plant, it is never eaten by sheep. 

 Even where a number of different species of plants are growing 

 profusely together, the sheep will carefully single out the rattle- 

 weed and leave it untouched. A number of the herders considered 

 it poisonous; but it may only be avoided because of its exceedingly 

 unpleasant, bitter flavor. 



HONEYSUCKLE FAMILY. 



( Caprifoliaceae^) 



SNOWBERRY. 

 (Symphoricarpus oreophilus, Gray.) 



This plant might be classified under the head of "brush," 

 but unlike the bear brush and manzanita, it does not form im- 

 penetrable thickets that the sheep cannot pass through. It was 



