74 BULLETIN 12 4.1, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



In conclusion, it should be stated that, generally speaking, very 

 little must be expected from medicinal remedies to reduce the losses 

 from poisonous plants. It is true that such remedies ^ i 1 1 help in the 

 case of loeoed animals and will save life in the case of larkspur 

 poisoning of cattle. Generally speaking, however, the reliance should 

 he placed, not in remedies but. on prevention. Animals must be so 

 well cared for that they will not be tempted to eat poisonous plants. 

 Something may be done in the way of eradication, a- was indicated 

 under the discussion of larkspur. Larkspur can doubtless be eradi- 

 cated within a limited area. The locoes in pastures can be eradicated 

 with very little- difficulty, but. on the open range dependence 1 must be 

 placed on avoidance rather than eradication. Death camas. too. 

 does its harm on the open range, and there it occurs in Mich large 

 masses that eradication is impossible. In the matter of Cicuta, 

 farmers, without doubt, may accomplish much by digging it up along 

 their irrigation ditches, and this practice is usual in a great many 

 localities. But in the main the losses from poi>onous plants must be 

 prevented by careful handling of the herds, it being remembered 

 always that animals are not likely to eat poisonous plants from 

 preference, but that under starvation conditions they may be driven 

 to the use of such material for forage, with most disastrous results. 



