HAY CROPS. 33 



from the effects of this one fire. It appears that much less vigilance 

 is exercised in the control of fires in this region than in the pasture 

 and forest lands of Montana and Wyoming, due, no doubt, to there 

 being on the whole less combustible material, and consequently less 

 probability of fire spreading, as well as to the fact that the country is 

 more sparsely settled, and, therefore, the interests at stake are less 

 carefully guarded. 



HAY CROPS. 



A general description of the lowland hay meadows has already been 

 given. It remains simply to give a brief account of the principal hay 

 crops, their quality and something relative to the methods of handling. 

 Nothing is more evident than the fact that the yield is in direct pro- 

 portion to the amount of care and the amount and distribution of 

 water which the native meadows receive. The quantity of hay raised 

 on the different ranches is enormous. Its quality, however, is rather 

 low, for there is mixed with it oftentimes large quantities of wire 

 grass (Juncus halticus)^ squirrel tail {Hordeum jiibatum), tule (Scirpus 

 lacustris), various species of sedges (Carex sp.), creeping spike rush 

 {Eleochris palustris), and other plants having a smaller feeding value 

 than the majority of the true grasses and clovers. Many sedges, 

 however, produce hay of very fair quality. 



The methods of irrigation of the native meadows are very primitive 

 indeed. The waters during the flood season are held on the land as 

 much as possible by the aid of low rough dams constructed of earth, 

 brush, or refuse material. This plan floods the hay areas for periods 

 varying from one to three or four weeks. After these spring floods 

 pass by there is practically no more water for the native hay meadows 

 until the advent of cold weather, when the lower areas again become 

 flooded, and remain so, in some cases, until early summer. It will be 

 readily recognized that this condition is not conducive to the develop- 

 ment of the grasses, but furnishes, on the contrary, the exact environ- 

 ment suited to the growth of the poorer qualities of forage plants 

 mentioned above. 



In spite, however, of the natural disadvantages of poor drainage 

 and heav}^ stocking, large and magnificent crops of hay are raised on 

 some areas on all the ranches. The best hay, when both quality and 

 quantity are considered, is probably furnished by the wild wheat or 

 blue stem (Elymus triticoides), which furnishes oftentimes as high as 

 2J tons to the acre. Especially fine meadows of this were seen 

 on the Humboldt River bottoms at Winnemucca and in the Quinn 

 River Valley at Quinn River Crossing. (See PI. XIV, fig. 2.) The 

 best quality of native hay is doubtless furnished by the bunch blue 

 grass (Poa laevigata), which in favorable years and localities makes an 

 16370— No. 15—02 3 



