16 BULLETIN 367^ U. S. DEPAETMEXT OF AGEICULTUKE. 



collections (Xos. :28 and 4-2, fig. 2) made on the area plowed in 



1912 and those (Nos. 39 and 41, fig. 2) made on the area plowed in 



1913 gives an average total production of 797 poimds per acre, of 

 which 389 pounds, or less than 50 per cent, is grass, and of this 

 grass 164 pounds, or slightly more than 25 per cent of the total 

 herbage, is perennial grass. A spring collection on this area (Xo. 

 33, fig. 2) made the second spring after plowing shows no real 

 spring plants at all and no grass gi'owing. The plants collected 

 were all small, green, and growing, or rather waiting for more water 

 to continue their growth. They were all species that belong to the 

 summer rather than the spring growth. On the unplowed ground 

 near by the small spring annuals, Plantago, Gilia, Caucalis, Filago, 

 etc., were very small and all dried up at this time and, excejot for a 

 few Gilia focossa^ were none of them growing on the plowed land. 

 The difference was doubtless chie to the condition of moisture of 

 the surface soil which existed at the time of germination, the amount 

 of available moisture in the soil, and the depth of planting required 

 by the different seeds. The grasses Avill almost certainly take pos- 

 session of these plowed areas- in a shorter time than they would on 

 an overstocked range, since the plants all about the area will fur- 

 nish plenty of seeds, and the soil's abilit}" to catch and hold water 

 has been increased considerably by the plowing. As the soil settles 

 and grows more compact the smaller spring annuals may be expected 

 to become abundant. The plowed area near the southwest corner 

 (at I, fig. 2) produced a much smaller amount of available feed which, 

 was largely composed of annual grasses even before plowing. The 

 average amount of feed as shown by the collections made in 1913 

 and 1914 is of the same order of magnitude as that of the unplowed 

 ground, but has a smaller proportion of grass of any kind and 

 almost no perennial grass. The rate at which this area will be 

 invaded by the Isocoma will be of sorne importance. Xo seedlings 

 of this species were found on the plowed land in September. 1914, 

 though special search was made for them. There were numerous 

 seeding plants in the vicinity and a few of them on the plowed 

 area itself. 



NATURE AND RATE OF THE RECOVERY. 



A comparison of the condition of the fenced area as described by 

 Griffiths at the time of its inclosure in 1903 ^ with its condition in 

 1914, as given in this bulletin, brings out some interesting generaliza- 

 tions as to the nature and degree of recovery that may be expected 

 upon overstocked and eaten-down ranges in this region when 

 properly cared for. In 1903 the grasses were, .to, be found in any- 

 thing like a thick stand only as far north and west as a line con- 



1 See Bureau of Plant Industry Bulletin 67. 



