6 Plants Used by Sheep on Mountain Range. 



the eastern end about October 1 . Here they were finally counted and 

 sorted in the permanent corrals kept at this place for that purpose. In 

 three days they were driven back to the western end of the leased land, 

 feeding on selected grazing grounds which had been saved during the 

 eastward trip. They were then moved into the wheat stubble fields north 

 and west of Potlatch, Idaho, through which they gradually moved south- 

 westward during the month of October and the first half of November. 

 They then returned to their winter range near Hooper, Washington. 



On August 7, when the writer began this study, one band of about 

 3000 sheep had reached the Vassar meadows, which lie in sections one 

 and two of township 40 north, range 2, west of the Boise meridian, and 

 were feeding in the white pine region. The other band of about the 

 same size was on the Mica mountains back of Lundsford's meadow in 

 section thirty-three of township 41 north, range 2, west. They were 

 grazing in the yellow pine region. During practically the whole month 

 of August, while the sheep were under observation, the two bands re- 

 tained this relative position, one south of the middle line of the grazing 

 region moving eastward through the white pine, the other north of the 

 middle line moving eastward through the yellow pine. The Horse 

 Camp, so-called, or headquarters camp of the outfit was on the Wfindus 

 meadow, in section one of township 40, convenient to both bands. 



With the two bands of sheep were four men, a boss, a helper and 

 two herders. The herders camped with the sheep. The boss and the 

 helper lived at the horse camp, moved the herders' camps when neces- 

 sary, purchased and hauled supplies, hauled drinking water for the camp 

 and salt for the sheep, looked up stubble field range for the autumn feed- 

 ing, repaired the roads, and in general looked after the welfare of the 

 sheep and of the herders who could not leave them. The boss, Mr. 

 Robert Clyde, of Potlatch, Idaho, has lived in the region for twenty- 

 five years, is thoroughly familiar with every foot of its intricate geog- 

 raphy, and has worked for McGregor Brothers for a long time. The 

 other three men -are natives of Hautes-Alpes, a province of eastern 

 France, come from a race of sheepherders, and have had several years 

 of experience with sheep in this country. The McGregor Brothers 

 prefer and usually secure French herders, of whom there is quite a 

 colony in the vicinity of Walla Walla, ^ashington. 



THE GRAZING REGIONS CONSIDERED. 



The food plants of the sheep vary greatly in the different vegetative 

 regions under different climatic conditions. What the sheep eat de- 

 pends on what they have to eat. The vegetation of the four regions 

 herein considered is therefore described below. 



THE SAGE-BRUSH PLAINS AND VALLEYS. 



This region is used by the sheepmen only as winter range. It has 

 been fully described and its food plants discussed in Bulletin 60 (7)* 



*See Bibliography. 



