October 29, 1 910 s 7 



gustifolia. In addition to the above, there are a number of true 

 grasses entering into the composition of the native hay, includ- 

 ing species of Poa } Elymus, Agropyron, Sporobolus and Leptor 

 chloa. Two native clovers, Trifolium spinulosum and T. subset- 



linum, are frequently quite abundant. 



We have given considerable attention in this region to the 



relationship of the soil to the native vegetation, hoping to find 

 typical plants growing in certain kinds of soils. Onr observa- 

 tions lead us to different conclusions from those published by 

 others. In Bulletin 157, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Bu- 

 reau of Plant Industry, page 32, referring to Sarcobatus vermic- 

 ulatus and .V. Baileyi^ we read: "The presence of greasewood is 

 an almost certain indication that alkali occurs somewhere within 

 reach of its roots.*' 



We have found the big greasewood growing in almost all 

 kinds of soils and intermixed with many other native plants 

 generally considered not tolerant of alkali. The common sage 

 brush, Artemissa tridentata, is a good example. Over consid- 

 erable areas one can find the sage brush and the greasewood 

 with their roots so closely interlocked with one another that they 

 must both be subjected to identical soil conditions. Yet both 

 species have made a growth of many feet, and above the average 

 as representatives of their kind. Again, the little greasewood, 

 Sarcobatus Bailcvi, grows in an entirely differ nt character of 

 soil, almost separated from its relative, and on high, dry, sandy 

 areas. The big greasewood does, of course, grow on lands 

 strongly impregnated with alkali, but that wherever we find the 

 greasewood we are to conclude that the soil is strongly alkaline, 

 either at the surface or at greater depths, seems in the opinion 

 of the writer to be far from proven. It is also very doubtful 

 whether the sandy lands supporting the little greasewood should 

 be considered alkali lands. The subject needs more than cas- 

 ual observation and will need many chemical analyses of the 

 soil from about the roots of many plants. 



The position given to lands covered with a luxuriant growth 

 of greasewood by Dr. Ililgard in his most excellent work on 

 soils must, at least so far as the Trnckee-Carson project is eon- 



