10 MISC. PUBLICATION 101, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
(Scrophulariaceae), a large group mainly of herbs but represented 
by the shrubby genus Diplacus and certain woody species of Pent- 
stemon that locally produce a small amount of forage. 
In the pages immediately following are presented fuller notes on 
what are perhaps the most important browse species occurring in the 
western range States, although no attempt is made within the com- 
pass of this one general publication to give a comprehensive treat- 
ment of individual species. These notes are presented in an order 
largely determined by circumstances. It would be difficult, if not 
impossible, to arrange the species satisfactorily in the order of their 
relative importance. On the other hand, an alphabetical sequence, 
while advantageous in a large reference work, is here objectionable, 
not only because of its artificiality but because it would prevent any 
indication of relationship between genera and would preclude con- 
venient comment on secondary species of related genera. It has 
seemed desirable, therefore, to arrange the genera alphabetically 
within the families, the families being arranged in the Engler and 
Prantl sequence rendered familiar by the various modern botanical 
manuals and floras, and employed in most herbaria. The generic 
treatments begin with brief notes on the genus as a whole, followed 
by relatively full notes on what are considered the most important 
species; these are followed by briefer notes on secondary browse 
species of the genus. 
The publication, while illustrated, is in no sense a botany, emphasis 
being placed wholly on the economic and ecological data; therefore 
botanical descriptions and keys are omitted in the treatment. 
The Latin nomenclature is in accord with current usage in the 
Bureau of Plant Industry, United States Department of Agriculture. 
Effort has been made to have the common names conform to the list 
proposed by the American Joint Committee on Horticultural Nomen- 
clature (3) or, if of arborescent species, to Sudworth’s Check List 
(131). ‘The majority of our native western browse species, however, 
do not appear in either of the works mentioned and in a very few 
cases it was felt that established western usage or other considera- 
tions justified a departure from these standards. Where one or more 
Latin or English plant names are used, the first one is regarded as 
the approved name, the succeeding ones being synonyms. 
CONIFER, OR PINE FAMILY (CONIFERAE OR PINACEAE) 
Western conifers (Coniferae) embrace about 14 genera and 80 
species and are regarded by some botanists as an order (Pinales) 
consisting of four families, viz, the yew family (Taxaceae), pine- 
spruce-fir family (Pinaceae), baldcypress-sequoia family (Taxo- 
diaceae), and cypress-juniper-cedar family (Cupressaceae, or Juni- 
peraceae). ‘The great majority of these species have silvical impor- 
tance and many are of immense economic value as wood producers. 
Grazing on the young growth of such species is obviously to be dis- 
couraged. It does occur, however, to some extent even under proper 
use, and where the range is overgrazed it may take such proportions 
that satisfactory forest regeneration is interfered with (15, 28, 63, 
113, 125). 
_ The terpenes and other oleoresins of conifers are apt to have an 
irritant effect, and a considerable number of cases of scours and 
