LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 
IVISION OF AGROSTOLOGY, 
Washington, D. C., December 8, 1896. 
SIR: I have the honor to transmit for publication as Bulletin No. 6 
of this Division a report upon the grasses and forage plants and forage 
conditions of the Dakotas, based upon the work of the field agents in 
those States during the past season and upon the observations made 
by Mr. T. A. Williams, assistant in the Division, who has compiled the 
report. Mr. Williams has spent several years in South Dakota and 
become personally familiar with much of the territory covered by the 
report. The grass and forage problem of both Dakotas is an exceed- 
ingly important one, and this report can not fail to be of great interest 
not only to the farmers and landowners of those States, but also to 
those living throughout a large portion of the Northwest where similar 
conditions prevail. The work in North Dakota was chiefly performed 
by Mr. M. A. Brannon, who visited various parts of the State under a 
commission from the Department, and whose notes and „ 
are scattered through various parts of the report. Messrs. E. N. 
cox and David Griffiths assisted in the work done in South Dakota, 
Mr. Wilcox working under a commission for two months and Mr. 
Griffiths for a shorter period. 
The report is divided into three parts, the first embracing general 
notes upon the forage conditions in the Dakotas; thisis followed by an 
alphabetieal and descriptive list of the grasses and forage plants of 
those States, in which are embodied notes of economie interest; the 
third part, which is addressed to botanists, contains a classified list of 
the grasses and forage plants eollected or observed by the field agents 
and by Mr. Williams, specifying localities and introducing occasional 
notes of botanical interest. 
Respectfully, F. LAMSON-SCRIBNER, 
Agrostologist. 
Hon. CHAs. W. DABNEY, Jr. 
7 
Assistant Secretary. 
