43 



June. Although it is reported to be poisonous to cattle and 

 horses, yet no cases are on record where sheep have been poisoned 

 by it. In all probability the roots are poisonous, but the sheep 

 do not seem to disturb them, as no indications were seen where 

 plants had been uprooted. 



GRASS FAMILY. 



(Gramincae.) 



This family is one of the most important families of plants, 

 as it includes many of those which make up the staple articles of 

 food for man and beast, such as corn, wheat, oats, barley, rye, 

 timothy and all the grasses. It was especially noticeable, how- 

 ever, that during the months of June and July the sheep 

 depended very little upon grasses for their support. The reason 

 for this is that the grasses growing on the dry hillsides have 

 reached their limit of growth and have become for the most part 

 dry and unpalatable to sheep. Those growing in the wet 

 meadows are also untouched, or passed over very rapidly, as 

 sheep never care to feed over wet ground. Those growing on the 

 mountains, however, near the patches of snow were found to be 

 green and luxuriant and eagerly eaten off. After the first rains 

 in the fall and in early spring, considerable quantities of the 

 new tender growth of the grasses find the sheep willing cus- 

 tomers. 



WHEELER'S BLUE-GRASS. 

 (Poa Wheeleri, Vasey.) 



This grass was found growing abundantly in large patches 

 on the outskirts of the snow banks near the summit of Mount' 

 Lola. The young leaves were very green, tender and plentiful. 

 The snow had only recently left the patch, and a band of sheep 

 that had been resting and cooling themselves on the snow bank 

 started in feeding on grass. They were apparently very fond of 

 it, eating it off very clean. It is one of the best grazing grasses 

 of tlie region* anil is worthy of being introduced into cultivation. 



