FORAGE VALUE OF THE WILD MEADOWS. 21 



leaves, stems, flower heads, and all — like a salad. T.longipes var. 

 forms tufts of several stems from a stout, perennial rootstock, and is 

 worth experimental culture as a forage plant. T. variegatum is com- 

 mon in wet places and is closely eaten by cattle ; it is one of the most 

 promising native species. Lotus pinnatus is a common leguminous 

 plant of wet places, and ma}" be of some value as forage. Rib 

 grass (Plantago lanceolata) has become naturalized, but is not yet 

 abundant. 



Though the various grasses, sedges, and rushes together form the 

 largest proportion of the meadow vegetation, and native clovers are 

 plentiful, other and less valuable plants abound, occupying space 

 which could be filled with species of greater economic value. A but- 

 tercup {Ranunculus occidentalis) forms large yellow patches in the 

 open meadow, while in marshy spots the camass (Camassia esculenta) 

 produces masses of bright blue flowers in early summer. A species 

 of Veratrum, not in flower at the time of our visit, is quite common, 

 and is reported as being poisonous to stock. A species of Orthocar- 

 p>us, with yellow flowers, is the prevalent meadow weed, and forms, 

 together with blue-eye grass (Sisyrinchium) and camass, brilliant 

 masses of color, gold and blue, in the months of May and June. 

 Species of Polygonum, Eunanus, Collinsia, Lupinus, Agoseris, Zyga- 

 denus, Achillea, and Lotus also occur in varying abundance. Sorrel 

 (Rumex acetosella) has found its way into Hupa Vallej", and is met 

 with elsewhere in the region. It is one of the most pernicious weeds. 



Forage value of the wild meadows. — The composition of the herbage 

 in these wild meadows does not give indication of high forage value; 

 the grasses are for the most part weedy species, producing compara- 

 tively little foliage. The hay produced is poor in quality and is not 

 eaten greedily by stock. Much of it is trampled under foot as waste. 

 Mr. C. W. Bradford, of Sherwood, states that about 3 tons of wild hay 

 to the acre inay be considered an average yield in the valley, and that 

 about 50 head of cattle can usually be pastured for some five months 

 on 100 acres of valley pasture. When danthonia and native clovers 

 were the prevalent species, the carrying capacity of meadow and 

 pasture was probably much greater. On account of the abundant 

 water supply and peculiar climatic condition enjoyed by these moun- 

 tain valleys there are few places in the State of California which give 

 better promise for the formation of good permanent meadows and 

 pastures. With the evidence before us of what is actually being 

 accomplished in the Eel River Valle} 7 , in Humboldt County, there is 

 no apparent reason why, with the cultivation of the best adapted and 

 most nutritious forage plants, at least 5 tons of hay per acre should 

 not be raised, and the carrying capacity of 100 acres be raised from 50 

 head of horned stock for five months to 100 head for twelve months. 



Improvement of pasture and meadow. — In order to produce such a 

 desirable condition, the work of renewing meadow and pasture must 



