IMPORTANT RANGE PLANTS. 51 
average. The seed crop, too, is produced late. A few matured seed 
heads are seen about August 10, but most of the seed reaches maturity 
in September, often in the latter part of the month. Fortunately 
this plant is very resistant to frost, and consequently the seed con- 
tinues to develop after many other species, such as wild celery, have 
been killed. 
The vitality of the seed crop, taking into account that produced 
both early and late in the Hudsonian zone, gave an average of 29, 
38, and 41 per cent, respectively, in the three years of test. 
Mountain dandelion is reproducing comparatively well on the range, 
and promises to respond favorably to any system of protection which 
will allow the seed crop to mature. 
Sheep seek the plant in preference to many grasses and weedy 
species. Each season it is eaten down to the ground, leaving only 
the coarse base. In the early part of the summer, and even until the 
seeds are nearly mature, the young, tender, juicy flower stalks, leaves, 
and even the flowers, are eaten with avidity. Few other species 
enjoy as long a growing season. In 1909 the leaves were still green 
and highly palatable to sheep on October 1. The seeds are usually 
not disseminated for a considerable time after maturity, but the 
hairy appendages which are the means of affecting their dispersal by 
the wind are not objectionable to stock. 
Woolly Weed. 
(Hieracium cynoglossoides.) 
To see this peculiarly woolly plant, sometimes referred to as woolly 
hieracium, one would hardly think of it as valuable for forage. Sheep- 
men state, however, that the only objection is that it does not occur 
more abundantly. 
It is from 1 to 2 feet in height with numerous leaves arising from 
the crown of the perennial, coarse and much-branched root, and an 
abundance of leaves on the stem. The dense covering of fine soft 
hairs on the stem and leaves gives it a very distinctive character 
(Plate LI). 
It is unusual to find a dense ground covering of woolly weed. It 
grows almost invariably with other weedy perennials, such as moun- 
tain dandelion, blue beardtongue, and numerous grass species, among 
which it seldom predominates. In soil and moisture requirements it 
is almost identical with mountain dandelion. Individual plants 
wilted beyond recovery in soil varying in water content from 8 to 
10.5 per cent. These figures are similar to those obtained in the case 
of certain bunch grasses with which woolly weed is associated. 
The flower stalks are produced between July 15 and August 20, 
the greatest number being sent up after August 1. The seeds begin 
