STOCK-POISONING PLANTS OF THE RANGE. 
13 
THE ROSE FAMILY (ROSACEA). 
WILD CHERRY (SPECIES OF PRUXUS). 
For years there have been persistent reports of poisoning, espe- 
cially of sheep, from eating wild-cherry leaves. There has been great 
difficulty in proving the truth of these stories, for it has frequently 
happened that of several bands going through a mass of wild cherry, 
possibly only one would suffer, while the others would go through 
with no cases of poisoning. A large number of experiments have been 
performed with wild-cherry leaves, many of which have been with- 
out results. Investigations by the department, however, have veri- 
fied the statement that the leaves of wild cherry may be extremely 
poisonous, and there seems to be no doubt that, under certain circum- 
stances, animals may be killed by eating this plant. These cases 
ordinarily occur along drives that are bordered by wild cherry and 
where there is very little else for the animals to eat. 
It has been foun d 
that the rather wide- 
spread idea that cherry 
leaves are specially 
dangerous when wilted 
is erroneous. 
Sheepmen should by 
all means avoid, if pos- 
sible, trails that are 
lined with wild cherry, 
and if it is necessary to 
drive over these trails, 
they should take great 
care that the animals 
are well supplied with 
food before commenc- 
ing the drive. Poison- 
ing from wild cherry is 
due to prussic acid, and death results very quickly. (Figs. 9 and 10.) 
No treatment is likely to modify the results. 
Plate XI shows one of the wild cherries of the West. 
Fig. 10. — Sheep in the last stages of cherry poisonim 
THE PULSE FAMILY (LEGUMINOS^E). 
LUPINES (SPECIES OF LUPINUS). 
The lupines are among the most conspicuous of the flowering plants 
upon mountain ranges. They are scattered in a very large number 
of species practically over all the grazing regions. They are known 
under a great variety of common names, among which are " blue 
pea " and " wild bean." 
The picture of Lupinus sericeus, Plate XII, will serve for the iden- 
tification of any of the lupines. The form of the leaf and the color 
of the flower, ordinarily shades of purple or blue, readily distinguish 
this plant from others growing in the same neighborhood. The 
seeds are especially poisonous, and most cases of poisoning result 
from eating the pods containing seeds. The pods alone, however, 
may poison, and sometimes sheep are poisoned by the leaves, or by 
the leaves in combination with the seed pods. 
