EXTRACTS FROM AGRICULTURAL REPORTS. 
553 
greater value, as it is gleaned from personal conversation with 
ranchmen and others in stock and cattle-raising from different 
sections. Having the above specific object in view, great care 
and much effort were used to obtain facts only. 
The plant begins to appear at about Medicine Lodge, and to 
extend southwesterly into the Indian Territory and northwesterly 
through the State of Kansas. At Dodge City it was found 
growing abundantly in spots, although no locoed animals could 
be found or heard of thereabouts. Ranchmen say they have not 
been so much troubled with it in recent years, but scores had lost 
heavily from it in years past. It was ascertained from what 
appeared to be reliable authority, that about 500 animals have 
been lost in Meade county during the past five years from the 
effects of this weed, though occasionally a person was met with 
who firmly asserted that the plant in question did not cause the 
so-called loco disease. A butcher in Grenada, Colorado, who 
had been interested in raising cattle and horses, and seemed to 
be quite intelligent in his subject, most positively stated that “ he 
did not believe one word of all that was said about the crazy 
weed. He had read and heard a good deal, but he had yet to 
see an animal becoming affected by loco. He had pastured right 
in it, and never lost one animal.” A number of others gave like 
testimony. 
It would be impossible in the brief space of this article to 
give the various and sometimes conflicting statements concerning 
this weed. Evidently there has been a lack of accurate and skill, 
ful observation in the matter. The great majority report that the 
plant is truly named, as it makes the animals not only crazy, but 
is sure to kill them eventually. Dr. P. Harding, of Dodge City, 
a veterinary surgeon, stated that at one time he was dealing quite 
extensively in horses, and had lost a number from what he 
believed to be the effect of loco. lu order to satisfy himself, he 
performed two experiments upon horses, with the weed ; the first 
experiment being in the field, and the next in the barn In the 
field he pastured two horses, both horses having a taste for loco. 
One of the horses found abundance of the plant in his pasture ; 
the other horse found none , because it had been carefully removed 
