WESTERN SNEEZE WEED AS A POISONOUS PLANT. 43 



lions, yarrow, a few plants of Agastache and a bunch of Rudbeckia 

 occidentalis. The wheat grass stood between 2 and 3 feet high. 



Actual count of II. hoopesii plants on measured areas, as in pre- 

 ceding years, showed an average of 14 plants inside to 22 outside. 



In summing up the results of these experiments to date, the follow- 

 ing statements may be made : 



1. The sowing of grass seed was a failure, for all the grasses which 

 came in were from reseeding of the natural grasses of the range. 



2. The relative number of H. hoopesii plants on a given area had 

 been reduced about one-half as the result of the prevention of grazing. 



3. The H. hoopesii still remained in considerable abundance and 

 was growing with vigor, and it is by no means clear that this method 

 would accomplish anything more than a reduction of the H. hoopesii 

 plants with an opportunity for the growth of grasses and other 

 palatable forage. 



4. While, without doubt, the prevention of grazing will do much 

 toward the restoration of the range, in localities where H. hoopesii 

 has taken possession, it will take a long time for it to be overcome 

 by other plants. It is a very thrifty plant, propagating both by 

 seeds and vegetatively; so far as known, it has no insect enemies and 

 is likely to hold its own in competition with others. The proba- 

 bilities of real restoration of the range, in any brief period, are not 

 good. While the resting will benefit a range, it probably would 

 take many years to make anything like a complete restoration. 



This experiment will be continued for a further period of years in 

 order to determine as nearly as may be what length of time may be 

 necessary to restore the range to a reasonably good condition. 



Prevention of Losses. 



The ways by which losses of livestock by poisonous plants may be 

 prevented were discussed in Farmers' Bulletin 720, and, in recapitu- 

 lating the facts about H. hoopesii it may be well to follow, in general, 

 the classification of that bulletin. 



Medicinal remedies. — As stated in Bulletin 720, medicinal remedies 

 in most cases of plant poisoning are of minor importance. It has 

 been shown in the case of H. hoopesii that the effects of the plant 

 are of such a character that little or no help can be expected from 

 remedies. 



Eradication. — This is discussed in detail on pages 39-43, where it is 

 shown that eradication is practically impossible. 



Use of range when plants are least poisonous. — Some plants are 

 especially dangerous at certain seasons; H. hoopesii is dangerous 

 during the whole season, so that nothing can be gained by confining 

 the grazing to a part of the season. 



