SURVEYS OP FOEEST RESERVES. 135 



Sedge ( Garex). — The larger part of the so-called grasses of which the 

 meadows are made up consists of various species of this genus. Many 

 of them are eaten readily by sheep. 



Sunflower (Balsamorhiza deltoidea). — A characteristic plant of the 

 yellow-pine forests, said to be an excellent sheep food. 



Snnflower ( Wyethia). — A plant abundant toward the northern end of 

 the Cascades in the lower elevations of the yellow pine belt, particu- 

 larly in treeless openings. It is a favorite spring food of sheep. 



Three-leaf OT deer-tongue {Achlys triphylla). — One of the characteristic 

 plants of the heavy west slope forests, and a favorite food plant of the 

 sheep. 



Valerian ( Valeriana sitchensis). — A common plantof moist open slopes, 

 and burns in the west slope forests; closely eaten by sheep. 



Vaiioouveria ( Vancouveria hexandra). — A herbaceous plant of the 

 heavy west slope forests, very much liked by sheep, and, so far as we 

 could learn, not distinguished by a popular name. 



Vine maple [Acer circinatum). — This is one of the favorite browsing 

 plants of sheep, and grows in abundance in the heavy west slope for- 

 ests. We did not meet with it south of the Mount Hood Kange district. 



Wild-cat grass (Stipa). — This is one of the characteristic grasses of 

 fire-glades in the lodgepole pine forests. Sheep graze upon it, but it is 

 not considered good food. 



Wild cheat [Bromus). — A favorite grass, common in burns in the 

 heavy west-slope forests. 



Wild tansy [Achillea viillefolinin). — A favorite food of sheep, found 

 in a great variety of situations, usually in open ground. -It is very 

 eagerly sought after by the sheep in spring, but later in the season it 

 becomes dry and less palatable. 



Willoio [Salix). — Many species of willow grow in the Cascades, and 

 the leaves and twigs of most of them are eaten rather readily by sheep. 

 Salix nuttallii is a characteristic species of burns in the heavy west 

 slope forests. The others grow chiefly in meadows and along streams. 



Wire grass [Juncns balticus). — This plant, which grows in meadows, 

 is eaten by sheep, but not with much relish. 



EFFECTS OP OVERGRAZING. 



The effect of a moderate amount of grazing on the lands of the reserve 

 is the same as the effect of the judicious removal of a grass crop from 

 a fenced pasture by grazing, or from a meadow by cutting, namely, that 

 a forage crop is secured without material detriment to the land and 

 the herbaceous vegetation it bears. I say advisedly "a moderate 

 amount of grazing," for there is not the slightest question that in many 

 countries of the Old World and in some localities of the United States 

 overgrazing is a serious injury to the forage crop and to the young 

 growth of forests. By "a moderate amount of grazing" I mean graz- 

 ing only to such an extent that the forage crop does not d€!crease from 

 year to year. In general, overgrazing in the Cascades has only been 

 begun, or perhaps the facts are better expressed by the statement that 

 up to the present time overgrazing is limited to a few areas in a part 

 of the Mount Hood district and a part of the Three Sisters district. 

 For example, a small range on the west slope of the Cascades, near 

 Mount Washington, containing an area of about a section, formerly 

 maintained a band of sheep eight weeks, but now can support them 

 only about half as long. Overgrazing on a very small scale can be seen 

 almost anywhere in a sheep country on bedding grounds and along 



