FORAGE PLANTS. 45 



Pahute Indians were in the habit of collecting the seed and using it for food. The 

 plants are of rather questionable forage utility, although said by some to be relished 

 by cattle after the late autumn frosts. Like the last species of saltbush, these often 

 grow very vigorously in cultivated fields which are slightly too alkaline for culti- 

 vated crops. 



Hop sage (Grayia spinosa). — A well branched shrub, 1 to 3 feet high, with long, 

 slender spines, thick, rather succulent leaves, and a spike of winged fruits which 

 bear some resemblance to the cultivated hop from which is derived the common name. 

 This is seldom eaten in summer, but in the winter the leaves and fruit which fall in 

 late summer are picked up by stock in much the same manner as they eat the leaves 

 of the mesquite further south on the Arizona deserts. It grows in situations similar 

 to the spiny saltbush, and is of value as autumn and winter feed. 



White sage {Eurotia lanata). — As it grows in this region at the present time this 

 is a low shrub, one-half to 2 feet high, consisting of a few straight unbranched 

 shoots from a woody stump. It was formerly of much importance as a winter feed 

 for both cattle and sheep, but the quantity is so reduced at the present time that it 

 can not be considered of much economic importance. 



Red sage {Kochia americana). — A sparingly branched plant, one-half to 2 feet 

 high, with straight, slender, leafy twigs. Next to the white sage this is said to be the 

 shrub most relished by cattle of any in the region. It is quite abundant in places 

 from the higher bottoms to the foothills. After the advent of frosts in the fall the 

 whole plant turns red — a characteristic which has given rise to the common name. 

 The previous year's wood always bears evidence of having been eaten. 



Greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) . — A tall, brittle, wooded shrub with spread- 

 ing branches and narrow, thick, succulent leaves. It always inhabits strongly alka- 

 line ground and often grows where nothing else but the iodine weed (Spirostachys 

 occidentalis) is able to thrive. Very large areas of this are found between Winne- 

 mucca and Quinn River Crossing. It is really the prominent lowland shrub in 

 places and does not often bear evidence of browsing, but the leaves are cleaned up off 

 the ground where they have fallen, and it is said to furnish much feed in this way. 

 It can, however, be considered only an emergency ration at best. The feed it furnishes 

 is both small in quantity and poor in quality. (See PL XII, fig. 2). 



THE CLOVERS. 



One of the main differences between the meadows and river banks 

 of this region and corresponding* situations in the Dakotas, eastern 

 Montana, and Wyoming is the presence of numerous species of clovers 

 of great importance in the economy of the stock industry. They fur- 

 nish much valuable pasture and hay of excellent quality. The most 

 important species are discussed below, although no attempt is made 

 to give a comple list. 



Seaside clover (Trifolium involucraium) . — This is the most abundant and impor- 

 tant of any of the native species of the region. In the low, swampy, nonalkaline areas 

 on the native meadows it often yields from one-half to 1\ tons of hay per acre. On 

 the Divine Ranch it had spread, under the influence of irrigation, to sagebrush soil, 

 and there, with timothy and redtop, made a fine crop. It is a promising species for 

 cultivation and under proper treatment it would probably make feed about equal in 

 quantity and quality to alsike clover. 



Small-headed clover {Trifolium microcephalism) . — Although not of as much 

 importance as the previous species, this furnishes much pasture in places and it 

 stands close grazing very well indeed. It is commonly found with the preceding 

 species in low, wet meadows. 



