44 FOE AGE CONDITIONS ON NORTHERN BORDER OF GEE AT BASIN. 



taste. Some species are annuals, but the majority of those which are 

 most valued as forage are shrubby perennials. 



Silyeey salt bush (Atriplex argentea) . — A bushy, branched, triangular leaved 

 annual which develops in unsodded areas in native meadows and often in poorly 

 cultivated fields on the lower elevations. In the latter situation it receives a stimu- 

 lus from artificial cultivation and often makes a good stand. Much of it is cut with 

 hay and is readily eaten by both sheep and cattle. 



Shad scale (Atriplex canescens). — A bushy, branching shrub, 3 to 10 feet high. It 

 is most abundant in northern Nevada, where it grows commonly in the sandy 

 stretches bordering low areas. It is less abundant and therefore of less consequence 

 in this region than the next species mentioned, but it is probably relished more by 

 stock. 



Spiny salt bush (Atriplex confertifolia) . — A diffusely branched spiny shrub, 1 

 to 3 feet high, growing in nonalkaline situations on the mesas and foothills. Its 

 habits are about the same as the bud sage, with which it often forms the only vege- 

 tation on large areas of the lower foothills between the draws where the black sage 

 predominates. It is undoubtedly one of the most important winter feeds for sheep 

 in the entire region, since the white and red sages have become so much reduced by 

 overstocking. 



H albert-leaved salt bush (Atriplex hostato) . — This is a branched, erect annual, 

 growing in rather alkaline situations and having about the same value and habit as 

 A. truneata and A. argentea. Like these two species, it sometimes develops tremen- 

 dously in cultivated fields, in spots where the soil is too salty for the development of 

 alfalfa and other cultivated crops. It often forms an almost pure crop in local areas 

 in native meadows. In either case it is often gathered with the hay in considerable 

 quantities and eaten by stock in winter. On the range it and the two species men- 

 tioned above are pastured to a large extent. These three species were especially 

 abundant on the north fork of the Malheur River above Beulah, Oreg. , and were 

 common in hay meadows all the way from Winnemucca north. 



Nuttall's salt bush (Atriplex nuttallii). — A low spreading, sparingly branched 

 shrub. This species was not seen until we reached the Malheur Lake basin, where 

 it was found over large areas. It was again encountered in great abundance in the 

 valley of the Malheur River, about 40 miles above Ontario. Wherever it was found 

 it was invariably closely grazed on the open range. PL III, fig. 1, shows an area of 

 this plant on the open'range near the Harper ranch. All of the vegetation in the fore- 

 ground, excepting the bunch of cactus, consists of stumps of this shrub. On the 

 Harper Ranch there was one field which contained large areas which were protected 

 during the summer. These areas invariably contained nothing but this season's 

 growth of a few branches 6 to 12 inches long, showing how greedily the plant is 

 eaten by cattle during the winter. 



Torrey's saltbush (Atriplex torreyi). — A tall, diffusely, and rigidly branched 

 shrub, 4 to 8 feet high, with triangular leaves, angular branches, and long, tapering 

 spines. It was met with only in a few localities in northern Nevada, as far north as 

 Quinn River Crossing. In the vicinity of Winnemucca it was browsed to about the 

 same extent as the shad scale. 



Utah saltbush (Atriplex truneata). — An erect, sparingly-branched annual, resem- 

 bling silver}- saltbush in general appearance and habit. Like the halbert-leaved 

 saltbush, it often forms a large part of the hay cut on the native meadows, and 

 develops to almost an alarming extent in cultivated fields which are inclined to be 

 too salty for ordinary crops. 



Pahute weeds (Dondia depressa ereetia and D. duffusa). — Both of these plants are 

 much branched, narrow-leaved annuals, or, at most, biennials. The common name by 

 which they are designated in this region is said to be derived from the fact that the 



