NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS FIELD STATION, 1913-1922 75 
STUDY OF THE NATIVE VEGETATION 
A comparatively large number of species of plants grow on the 
prairie in this region, but only 25 or 30 of them are important to 
grazing, and 4 of these produce approximately half of the forage. 
Some species are important to the grazier because cattle like them 
and eat them, while others are important because cattle do not eat 
them and they flourish to the disadvantage of those that the cattle 
do eat. The species of little grazing value may be favored by over- 
grazing because cattle will not eat them. 
The dominant plant species in this region are blue grama grass 
(Bouteloua gracilis), western needle grass (Stipa comata), nigger wool 
or bull sod (Carex fiifolia), and western sedge (Carex heliophila). 
Other species that are common and important in relation to grazing 
are Artemisia gnaphalodes, Koeleria cristata, Solidago pulcherrvma, 
Fic. 9 —Native vegetation in the 70-acre pasture at the Northern Great Plains Field Station on July 
15, 1922 
Artemisia dracunculoides, A. frigida, Echinacea angustifolia, and 
Aristida longiseta. The native vegetation of this area has been more 
fully described by Sarvis."7 ? 
The native vegetation in this section covers approximately 60 per 
cent of the ground, Bouteloua gracilis covering about 20 per cent and 
Stipa comata about 10 per cent. These are the most valuable grazing 
species. The vegetation in the 70-acre and the 30-acre pastures on 
July. 15, 1922, is shown in Figures 9 and 10, which show the greater 
development of Artemisia frigida in the overgrazed 30-acre pasture. 
Definite studies of the native vegetation have been followed since 
the grazing experiment was established. The details and results of 
these studies are fully discussed in Department Bulletin No. 1170."* 
a7 Sarvis, J: T. Composition and density of the native vegetation in the vicinity of the Northern Great 
Plains Field Station. Jn Jour. Agr. Research, v. 19, p. 63-72, 2 fig., pl. 12-14. (Literature cited, p. 71-72.) 
18 Sarvis, J.T. Effects of different systems and intensities of grazing upon the native vegetation at the 
Northern Great Plains Field Station. U.S. Dept. Agr. Bul. 1170, 46 p., 11 fig.,9 pl. 1923. (Bibliographi- 
cal footnotes.) 
