74 STOCK RANGES OF NORTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA. 



the Eel River bottom lands and elsewhere along the coast. In 

 Europe horses are occasionally poisoned by nipping the plants from 

 gardens or by eating hay contaminated with it. 



Darnel (Lolium temulentum) is met with at Ukiah, Fort Bragg, 

 Ferndale, and in Hnpa Valley, but nowhere in great abundance. 



False hellebore (Veratrum californicum) is common in moist 

 places in Sherwood Valley and northward. Reported as poison- 

 ous to stock and said to be increasing in quantity. "The root and 

 young shoots have been reported as being fatal to horses" (Chesnut). 



Western Labrador tea (Ledum glandulosum) is reported by Miss 

 Parsons a to be much dreaded by sheepmen, who claim that it poisons 

 their flocks. Fortunately for stockmen, this plant is practically 

 restricted in this region of the State to the white-ash prairies and 

 sphagnum swamps, and is rarely met with in open pastures. The 

 only places noted by the writer where stock would be likely to find 

 access to it were some swamps on the cattle ranges of the Point Arena 

 bluffs. It also occurs in similar spots on Point Reyes. 



Buckeye (Aescuhis calif ornica). The fruit is generally regarded as 

 poisonous to stock, but may easily be converted into food by washing 

 and boiling. It is asserted that a small quantity will cause cows to 

 slip their young (Chesnut). 



Rhododendron (Rhododendron californicum) is reported from Ore- 

 gon as poisonous to sheep (Chesnut) ; abundant on the White Plains. 



Azalea (Rhododendron occidentale) is very much dreaded by sheep- 

 men who drive their flocks into the southern Sierras for pasture. 

 Investigation has shown that the leaves contain a poisonous substance 

 (Chesnut) ; common along streams throughout northwestern California. 



Calico-bush (Kalmia glauca microphylla), common on Trinity Sum- 

 mit, may possibly prove poisonous to sheep, as some of the eastern 

 species of the genus are considered among the most dangerous of cattle 

 poisons. 



Milkweed (Asclep ias eriocarpa). Several authentic accounts of the 

 poisoning of sheep have been secured against this plant in Mendocino 

 Countjr. It is especially feared on very warm days by sheepmen when 

 they are compelled to drive their flocks through dry, barren valleys. 

 It sometimes grows on cultivated land, and is cut with hay (Chesnut). 



Cocklebur (Xantliium canadense) appears in this region, as already 

 noted. The young seedlings are reported from Texas as being rapidly 

 fatal to hogs (Chesnut). 



FUNGOUS PARASITES.* 



The injury to the forage plants of the region under consideration, 

 caused by parasitic fungi, is exceedingly slight, in so far as can be 

 estimated from a rapid survey during a single season. The elevated 



a Parsons. M. E.. " Wild flowers of California, their names, hannts and habits." 

 San Francisco, 1897. 

 b The notes here presented were prepared by Dr. W. C. Blasdale. 



