MEADOWS AND HAY OROPS. 27 
in the vicinity of Rye Patch. This, together with saltbush (Atriplex 
confertifolia), bud sage, hop sage, and red sage, constituted the main 
browse, while the grass feed is produced mainly by Indian millet 
(Oryzopsis cuspidata) on the lower sandy areas and Buckley’s bluegrass 
(Poa buchleyana), Wheeler’s bluegrass (Poa wheeler’), and a little 
sheep fescue on the higher areas. Very little of the latter was seen 
in this vicinity, but it was very abundant in the pine forest mountains 
to the northeast of here last year. 
The condition of the feed now as compared with former times is 
very difficult to estimate. There has been so little attention paid to 
the purely winter grazing grounds that there are but few data regard- 
ing them. Water is so scarce here that pasturing is possible only 
when there isa heavy fail of snow, and the character of the vegetation 
is such that itis of but little value except for winter feed. Conse- 
quently the thousands of sheep which winter in the region live on 
browse of the desert during the winter months. If the snowfall is 
copious they are able to get down to the mesa, but during dry winters 
they feed around the summits of the mountains, within traveling dis- 
tance of snow, which is often their only source of water for several 
months of the year. It is to-be understood, of course, that many 
flocks of sheep congregate around such places as Lovelock and Carson 
Sink for the purpose of obtaining hay fora portion of their winter 
ration, and thousands are driven here to be fattened for the markets. 
Consequently this desert, which to the ordinary observer has neither 
feed nor water, is of great importance, for it supplies feed of a coarse 
kind upon which thousands of sheep pass several months without other 
expense than herding. As stated in last year’s report, there is need 
of close study of these ranges in the winter season, something which 
has not yet been attempted. 
Although the feed is mainly browse, there occurs somewhat of a 
change of ration between late fall and spring. The white sage, red 
sage, hop sage, and saltbush are mainly of value as early winter for- 
age, while the bud sage becomes valuable in late winter, when the bud- 
like twigs begin to develop, the young leaves and tender shoots being 
relished by all stock. At this season there are also many winter 
annuals, which are eaten by sheep especially. 
MEADOWS AND HAY CROPS. 
The main cultivated crops throughout the region described are four 
in number—alfalfa, timothy, redtop, and grain. Throughout the 
entire region alfalfa is the main irrigated crop, especially in the lower 
areas, while along the higher courses of streams in poorly drained 
areas timothy and redtop are extensively grown. Grain for hay is 
the common and prevalent crop in the wheat areas. In the North 
