i 8 
Colorado Experiment Station 
The pulse is slow and the pupils dilated. In fatal cases this is fol¬ 
lowed by spasms, general paralysis, delirium and death. In subacute 
cases the above symptoms will appear in a milder iform and the ani¬ 
mal may regain consciousness and be on its feet in an hour or two. 
Treatment .—Farmers should know the conditions under which 
the plants mentioned are liable to kill their animals, and take no 
chances. Acute cases are so rapidly fatal that the animal is often 
dead before remedial measures can be adopted. In case of poisoning 
]3y prussic acid in connection with forage, however, the symptoms 
usually do not develop so quickly and some assistance may be given. 
Inhalation of ammonia and throwing alternately cold and warm water 
over the head and neck have been advised. Hypodermic injections of 
atropine sulphate to stimulate the heart and respiration are indicated, 
'fhe chemical antidote (which must be given before the poison is 
absorbed) is a mixture of ferrous and ferric salt, administered with 
magnesia or potassium carbonate in solution. 
Millets 
The proso or broom corn millet, foxtail millets and pearl millet 
are the principal ones grown. The foxtail millets (Setaria italica) 
are divided into a number of types, chief of which are the Hungarian, 
German, Common, Golden Wonder, and Siberian. All are annual. 
MECHANICALLY INJURIOUS GRASSES 
Sand-P)UR {Cenchrus tribiiioides) 
The common sand-bur (fig. 8) is an annual grass with flat leaves. 
The long stems may he prostrate on the ground for a part of their 
length. The characteristic feature of the plant is the spiny structure 
surrounding the spikelet. As a consequence, there is formed a spiny 
bur, the spines being stout and barbed. There are as many as 20 burs 
in an inflorescence. The seed matures from July to September. 
Sand-bur is found growing in sandy soil, as a rule. It occurs through¬ 
out Colorado, at lower altitudes. 
Poxerty-Grass, Wire-Grass, Three-Awned-Grass 
(Aristida longiseta) 
This is a tufted silvery-colored perennial with numerous rolled, 
wire-like leaves at the base of the plant. Its common height is about 
I foot. There are some varieties that are much more robust, however. 
The flowering head is 4 to 8 inches long. The spikelets are small and 
T-flowered. The grain is tipped by three beards or awns (fig. 9), 
thus suggesting the common name ‘flhree-awned-grass.” The lower 
end of the mature seed is very sharp-pointed. 
Wire-grass is one of the chief grasses of the Great Plains. In 
certain places in eastern Colorado it forms an extensive growth. It 
is also found on dry hills, up to an altitude of 9,000 feet. 
Feather-Grass, PoRcimiNE-GRASs, Oat-Grass (Stipa) 
There are a number of different Stipas growing in Colorado, all 
of which are tufted perennials. The leaves are usually rolled. The 
inflorescence branches. Each spikelet produces one seed, which falls 
at maturity from the flowering head. Each grain bears a long beard 
