ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION. ll 
the south. The recently introduced awnless brome grass has shown 
that it can be successfully grown without irrigation. For a further 
discussion of the forage conditions of this area the reader is referred 
to Bulletin No. 12 mentioned above. 
Rocky MowunTAIN REGION. 
This includes a wide area passing through Colorado, Wyoming, 
western Montana, anda part of eastern Idaho. This area also received 
attention in Bulletin No. 12. 
As in the preceding area, the most important agricultural industry 
is stock raising. Sheep raising is relatively more important here. 
The sheep are pastured during the summer in the valleys, or at least 
where they have access to water, but during the winter they may be 
driven to the more arid districts, depending upon the snowfall for 
their water supply. 
The forage conditions of one of these arid regions is discussed by 
Prof. Aven Nelson in Bulletin No. 13 of the Division of Agrostology, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, entitled **The Red Desert of Wyo- 
ming and its Forage Resources.” 
Alfalfa is raised by irrigation at the lower altitudes throughout the 
area, but, as before stated, is not successful at an altitude exceeding 
6,000 or 7,000 feet, depending upon the latitude, and somewhat upon 
the local conditions. Above this altitude the common forage grasses 
of the East may be grown. ‘Timothy is raised in Colorado in favor- 
able locations up to an elevation of 9,000 or even 10,000 feet. On the 
plateau from Laramie westward the ranchmen depend largely upon 
wild hay for winter food. This is irrigated to increase the crop: but, 
‘owing to the injudicious or excessive application of water, the more 
desirable grasses are driven out by *‘ wire grass” (Juncus balticus), a 
kind of rush. 
It is a common practice to flood the land in the spring and allow it 
to remain partly under water until time for cutting the hay, when the 
water is turned off. A species of spike rush (£7/eocharis), also known 
as wire grass, is common in the moist spots. This wire grass is only 
moderately nutritious, but yields larger crops of hay than when grown 
on unirrigated land, and it is less trouble to turn on the water once 
than to supply the water oftener, allowing it to drain off each time. 
There is an impression among farmers in southern Wyoming that 
wild hay is more valuable for feed than alfalfa, ton for ton, for all 
kinds of stock. This is reflected in the price of hay at Saratoga, 
where wild hay or timothy sold at $15 and alfalfa at $5 to 56 per ton. 
At Laramie baled native hay was worth $8 to $10, and alfalfa in the 
stack $5 to 37 per ton. Throughout the West, grass hay is considered 
better than alfalfa for horses. There are several other kinds of forage 
plants that have been grown in isolated localities with success, and 
