CAPRIFOL IACEAE 



like at the tips of the branches. Perhaps the only value of this 

 plant will be as an ornaraenta] but it lias an excellent root system, 

 grows well from cuttings and is quite drought resistant, points 

 which may qualify it for observational work. The plant thrives on 

 the nursery at Tucson. 



COMPOS ITAE 



♦Ar temisia tri dent at a . The Black Sage is one of our contro- 

 versial plants* In many portions of the Hocky Mountains it now 

 occupies thousands of sections once grass covered. Its value as 

 a soil erosion plant, particularly in heavily grazed sections, is 

 very slight as stock, particularly sheep, make trails through it 

 which soon become water courses curing storms. On the ether hand, 

 in some quarters it is unquestionably the climax type, the brush 

 being eight feet high or more and forming a complete- ground cover. 

 The brush probably supplies mere sheep food than any grass cover 

 the laud might support. Eventually, however, the brush is certain 

 to give way to overgrazing and the result is a flood hazard of the 

 worst type. In many places an attempt is being made to eradicate 

 the brush and to permit such grasses as western wheat to come in. 

 As black sage land is commonly fertile it is not usually difficult 

 to establish a grass cover once the brush is removed. All things 

 considered, the black sage is not to be recommended in a rsvegotation 

 program except on sites where the land is sufficiently level to 

 prevent severe erosion, or where grazing can be properly regulated. 



Some other sages are closely related to the Black Gage and 

 it is probable that their use should be governed by the same rules 

 as those of the black sage. Art em isia nova, A. trif ida, A. arbuscula 

 and A. bigelovii are all much smaller plant s and for this reason 

 can form a closer ground cover and possibly better erosion control 

 cover. A. nova and A. bigelovii arc reported to be particularly 

 good forage. 



Another sage quite closely related to the black sage is A, 

 cana. This forms probably the best ground cover of any but it 

 grows naturally only at quite high altitudes. 



There are still other sages common with us. Some have not 

 been carefully studied. A, filifolia forms pure stands covering 

 large areas on usually quite candy land. It is doubtful, however, 

 that this and such plants as Pa re so la scoparia help much in pre- 

 venting drifting of sand. In fact they may even aggravate it by 

 diverting air currents into small channels. A. fi lifoli a supplies 

 an abundance of forage for all kinds of stock. It is reported, 

 however, as being poisonous at times to horses. 



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