Phoenix weekly herald. [volume] (Phoenix, Maricopa County, Ariz. Territory) 1896-1899, 1898-09-08
FORAGE FOR THE WEST.


government printing office the repor
of Thomas 4. Williams. assistant ag
rostologist of the Department of Az
riculture, on ''the grasses and forag,
plants and forage conditions of tn,
eastern Rocky mountain region This
report contains the result of the inves
tigations conducted by l. Lamson
Scribner last year. Prof. Scribner
who is aerost0logist of the department
Is we'll known in Montana, where he
formerly resided. In his letter trans
mitting Mr.. Williams report to the
Secretary of Agriculture, Prof. Lam
| n-Scribner says that Mr.. Williams
has studied the present forage prob
lens OF the region and investigated
the native grasses and forage plants
noting their characteristics, distribu
! ton, general prevalence and economic
/ Importance; he has endeavored TO as
J certain how the most desirable sorts
/! may be preserved or increased, and has
also made close personal observations
with the view of determining some
! practical means of restoring the ranges
| to their original grazing value, or ut
| least preserving them from further
| injury through careless and short
| sighted practices.
The present report is based upon
| those studies and Investigations. as
well as upon the results of work done
by the field agents of the division.
While carrying on these invesHgati tions
the work of the field agents has not
been confined to the districts easily ac-
cessible from the railroads and other
common lines of travel. but, by means
Of wagon trips and side excursions
on horseback, they have penetrated in
to the least known localities. in every
case making extensive collections Of
specimens and seeds, as well as OBJ
tanning all the data possible relating
10 the question of forage supply. There
has also been included much informa-
ton acquired through correspondence
with prominent citizens and leading
stocllnen, who have cordially respond
ed to letters of inquiry relative to the
matters IN question and materially
aided the department in the proSecu-
ton of these grass and forage plant in
veStigations
The report shows that there are fully
100000 acres of pasture lands in
Montana alone There were in Mon
tana, Wyoming and Colorado alone at
the beginning of the year 1897 about
300. 600 head of horses and mules. valu-
ed at about S9GOO.0O0: more than B.
600. 600 head of cattle. valued at nearly
$56.000,000. and more than 6.20O,0OO
head of sheep, valued at over 1O,500,- !
GOO. or total valuation for the stock |
supported chiefly by these native pas
lures and meadow lands Of about So
5tU.G00
Ia the present bulletin the tOpOgraph- |
ieai features Of the region are cOnsid- |
cred. including 4 discussion OF the soil. |
water supply. etc. This is followed by |
detailed accounts of the cultivated |
grasses and forage plants and the more
important forage plants. both grasses
and species of other families, native |
to the region. concluding with sugges-
tions ON methods of improvement of !
the forage conditions of the ranges.
Mr.. Williams says stock raising is al |
ways to be an important industry i'll
the vast eXpanse of territory lying be-
tween the Rocky mountains and the
Tooth meridian. The early settlers
recognized its many natural advant-
ages for this purpose. and at once be
San 10 cover the hills and valleys with
cattle and other stock Under the
influence of high prices,
resulting largely from the demand Gre
ated by the civil war, stock raising
grew TO be an industry of immense pro
portions. A first forage was plentiful;
everywhere the supply seemed mex
haustible and the ranchman's chief
was to get more stock in order
that he might turn into cash the
grasses of the prairie. Stock grew
and fadtened on no other food than the
native grasses throughout the entire
year.
At length. however. stockmen became
aware OF the fact that not only was
there Il possibility. but a probability.
-hat the supply of forage would soon
BE exhausted if they continued to fol
ow the old methods of stock raising.
nder this old system the ranges were
stocked 10 their utmost capacity. even
or the most favorable conditions. and
the past series of dry sea
sons resulted in Il great shortage of
eed. Ranchmen are already confront
ID With the necessity of providing
,Xtra forage supplies for use in seasons
when the grasses on the range are
short. i
The present inquiry, according to the
assistant agrostolOgiSt, is being carried
n, under the direction of the Secretary
# Agriculture. with Il view of finding
Ome practical means of bettering @X>
sting conditions and encouraging
tocl<men in their efforts to grow for
@e crops. Il series of Investigations of
he various forage problems existing in
he west and northwest, particularly
n the states of Montana. Wyoming
nd Colorado. These Investigations
re designed to secure full and accu- ,
ate information regarding the present
ondition of the forage problem; what
he grea test needs are and how they
an be met in the most practical man
Ter: TO study the native grasses and
orage plants. their characteristics, :
istributiOn, abundance and value: tn
scertain the best means of preserving {
he more desirable sorts and to intro :
uce into cultivation such as promise {
o be of value; to devise some practi- 6
Al trea tment of the ranges which Will
Ot only restore their original grazing
alue but guard against future injury
Trough overStocking and other care I
4ss and shOrtsi%hted practices. I
During the past three seasons field 5
gents of the department have been /
-orlling in different parts of the region |
4 question studying matters pertain |
~ to the forage supply. The writer '
as made two trips into the more inn
ortant grazing districts and has stud
ID the conditions and needs by con
ultin@ with stocbmen and collecting
Il facts likely TO aid in the work Of
citing Il practical solution of the var e
,uS forage problems confronting the I
eOple Il the present time and thereby p