30 FOEAGE CONDITIONS ON NOETHEEN BOEDEE OF GEEAT BASIN. 



characteristic, and is found in many places. In the figure referred to 

 above the grass is completely killed. 



Sheep fescue produces an abundance of seed and is easily grown in 

 the cooler regions of the United States, but whether it will reseed 

 itself readily on the open range when thoroughly killed out over a cer- 

 tain area does not appear clear. As far as we know there are no definite 

 observations on this point, but judging from the habits of the grass, 

 the general appearance of the bunches, and observation of the denuded 

 areas visited, the process will be exceedingly slow. One small ruined 

 area visited had the appearance of having been used as a bedding-down 

 place about two years ago, and evidently had not been pastured since. 

 Here the old bunches of roots needed nothing more than a kick to 

 remove them from the ground. There appeared to be no evidence 

 that the area was being reseeded, nor that other permanent vegetation 

 was taking the place of this one. It appears from these observations 

 that the process of recuperation when once the grass is killed will be 

 exceedingly slow. 



Some statistics obtained from Mr. J. M. McKissik, who runs a camp 

 in the mountains to supply the needs of the herders, show the enor- 

 mous drain that is made upon these mountains for summer pasture. 

 According to his statement a rough census was taken at the camp a few 

 days previous to our arrival, in which it was ascertained that there 

 were 73 flocks of sheep on the top of Steins Mountains at that time, 

 each flock averaging about 2,500 animals. Conservative estimates of 

 the area in which this pasturing was being done, furnished by the range 

 riders and ranchers familiar with the region, give the length of the 

 area as 50 miles by an average width of 8 miles, or 400 square miles. 

 Accepting the rather low average of 2,500 animals to the flock, the 

 figures indicate that there are 182,500 sheep, or over 450 animals to 

 the square mile. According to Mr. McKissik's estimate of the area, 

 there were over 1,000 sheep to the square mile. It is believed that 

 the other estimate is more nearly accurate. The season of pasturage 

 extends over fully four months, and at times from four and a half to 

 five, depending upon the advent of the autumnal storms. Nor is this 

 all. It must be remembered that there are cattle ranches located 

 around the base of the mountains. Among these are ranches belong- 

 ing to the French-Glenn estate and the Pacific Live Stock Company. 

 These and about a half dozen smaller ranchers run their cattle into 

 the same region as much as possible during the summer season. With 

 these figures before us it is needless to say that feed was short, and 

 that already in August some flocks were being driven onto what is 

 known as winter pasture on the lower levels, which are not usually 

 pastured until the middle of October. 



The shrubbery plays a very important part in the forage supply of 

 the mountains also. The extensive areas of cinquef oil {Dasiphorafruit- 

 ocosa) and Indian currant (Symphoricorpos oreophilus) are invariably 



