28 FOEAGE CONDITIONS ON NOETHEBN BOEDEE OF GEEAT BASIN. 



region of such short pasturage, it is very much injured by overgrazing. 

 According to the best information we were able to get, this plant fur- 

 nished a very large amount of feed on the mesa region at one time, 

 especially to the south of the Alvord Desert. The only place where 

 we found it in sufficient quantity to be of any great value was in the 

 vicinity of the upper end of the Black Rock Desert, between Leonard 

 and Bartlett creeks. It is common enough in the vicinity of Quinn 

 River Crossing, but either on account of close grazing or drought it 

 made but little growth this year. As seen on this trip the plants con- 

 sist of only a stump and a few shoots 6 to 10 inches long. Last year's 

 growth was invariably completely grazed off. 



Inasmuch as the best grazing areas are on the highlands, the princi- 

 pal interest pertains to these. Representative areas of six ranges of 

 mountains were carefully studied at the important transitional stage in 

 the history of all ranges, when the grasses were ripening. This proc- 

 ess occurred much earlier than usual this year according to the most 

 reliable information obtainable. Special trips were taken into the 

 Pine Forest. Bartlett Peak, White Horse, and Steins mountains, and a 

 spur of the Blue and Bendire were crossed on the regular stage route. 



With the curtailing of the range and consequent driving of the open- 

 range business into the more inaccessible and rocky areas, over- 

 stocking must inevitably follow. This condition has been reached in 

 practically all the open ranges of the country, but more interest is 

 attached to this condition in those regions where the grasses do not 

 form a sod. as is the case with the one in question, because trampling 

 and close grazing result in more speedy and permanent injury than in 

 the sodded regions. To say that the southern portion of the region is 

 overstocked would be putting the matter very mildly. The more 

 northern portion over which we traveled was in better shape. The 

 Bendire Mountain region especially had exceptionally good feed, and 

 was, as a whole, the best range which we saw on the whole trip. 

 Portions of the Blue Mountains were also in very good condition. In 

 all the other highlands overstocking was very conspicuous. The 

 White Horse Mountains were being pastured by sheep the second time 

 this season. They were grazed earlier in the summer, and flocks were 

 being driven into them again from the Disaster Peak country when 

 we were there early in August. One herder reported that the latter 

 place was all eaten out and that he moved his flock in order to avoid 

 trouble with other herders who were quarreling and disputing over 

 the little grass left. The first pasturing had left the range short 

 enough: what the second will do can be easily imagined. 



The most closely pastured region visited was Steins Mountains. 

 On the whole trip of three days we found no good feed, except in very 

 steep ravines, until we reached the vicinity of Teger Gorge. On a 

 portion of the trip from here to Manns Lake there was a good stand 



