The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-15
GRASS and FORAGE PLANTS.
EXPERIMENTS MADE FOR BENE-
FIT OF THE NORTHWEST.
Department of Agriculture Prepar-
ing Report on Plants Rest ADAPT
ed to various soils and Condi-
lions of Climate and Atmosphere.

investigations made bv Special Agent A. Il
Leckenhy. OF the division % agrcstology, In
regard TO grasses and forage plants OF the
Pacific coast The nrst real systematic
work OF this kind dates from personal
visit made by Mr.. Leckenhy 10 the Coast
IN 1888. From that time to the present In
vestigations have been continuous and the
results viii be OF great value to farmers
and stock raisers. especially in central and
Eastern Oregon and Washington. Espeeial
attention has been given TO the condition
and needs OF the areas subject 10 the shift
ing sands along the Coast region and al
verious points along the Columbia river.
Throughout the drier sections, east OF the
Cascades. the carrying capacity Of The
ranges has been very much reduced
through drought and overstocking. and one
Of the questions OF greatest importance in
this region has 20 do with the Improvement
OF the ranges and bringing it'haek. n pos
sible. to its original prcductivsness. The
present worn -out condition has undouhted-
" resulted from combination OF ctfcufn-
stances. During the years when the ranges
were AZ their period Of greatest productive
ness. they were graxed TO their utmost ca
nacity. and upon the advent Of series ~
dry seasons, which naturally resulted in
Hight yields OF forage, Il was necessary to
overgraze In order to keep the stock alive.
Then again. the open winter made II pos
slhle TO keep the stock on the range a much
| greater portion OF the year than previously
aud close grazing followed at a season
when the grasses could least endure IT.
namely. In early spring. The grass was
| given no opportunity 20 recuperate. and the
present worn-out condition OF the ranges
resulted.
The large number % horses which have
ranged over some sections Of the country
have had much 10 do with the present de-
pleted condition while. IN other sections
wuch injury has ben caused by sheep. To
any one visiting these craving regions II
| IL at once apparent that misunderstanding
grass and forage crops were Of the utmost
| importance. well as improved methods
OF range manngement
Native Gras.e. Driven Out.
In many sections the native grasses have
| been driven out ard their places taken hy
| weeds TO such an extent that reseeding Il
| about the only way that the lands can he
restored to ANYTHING Ike their original pro-
Effectiveness To do this grasses and forage
crops capable ~ enduring severe drought
and other hsrdships are necessary. u
| seemed desirable TO select some point or
points where experiments could be eon-
| Quoted having for their object the test
| ing OF drought-resisiing grass and FORAGE
| crops and of the range conditions. With
| this end IN view. number % localities
| were visited.
AZ Yakima and walla wsra It was found
| that some work had already been under
l
| pieces OF the Northern Pacific Railway Com
| psny and at walia Waiia hy the Oregon
| Railroad and Navigation Company The Of.
| hciais Of each of these companies express
| ed willingness 10 cooperate with the de
| partment In continuing In thi4 work ~
| testing grasses and forage crops and range
| improvements and went 50 far as to ofYer
! 10 turn over for the use OF the departing n
| the lands occupied hy their respective ~
pertinent stations and any others that
| might deemed suitable or necessary fer
making such tests
| For the station at North Yakima this
| offer Included tools. team and other aupii-
| snces used ~ the station. These offers
| seeming to AFFORD desirable oppcr- unity
| to carry on these much needed inveStiRs-
| lions. their acceptance was recommended
| This recommendation meeting with the APP
| prevail Of the secretary. the division saos
| charge of The governmental work nj these
\ places, ana special efforts we're made "a cell
| lect. Ia quantity. the seed Of native
| grasses and forage crops that seemed 80
| desirable to be tested In connection with
| the work Of range Improvement
| The Investigations on the Psrisc slope
| have been continued during the past saason
both in the field and At North Yakima
| Ws3la Walla. Rowenr. and other points
| The agrostoloRtst and two other members ~
| the Once force NJ the division ssar spent
| a considerable portion 81 the sg1mfner in
| The field, studying the native grasses % the
| region and other questions connected with
/ the forage problem
| At various points along the Immediate
/ coast and on the Columbia river. ths ntges-
/ tiar ~ axIng the drifting sands a. al, fYa-
| toFtani ore. ana 'nuch time has been rnsBt
1 IN studying the conditions which esls, there
I and IN eudeavortng "a secure practical
| means ~ holding me shifting sands IN
place. At some points along the river th,,
sand occurs In ssfrh Abundance and drifts
/ 50 hadiy that y r. a decided menace Is
! orchards and farm crops in the immefis.e
l viciniiy. and scFi9aHly impedeN tram hr
| forming drifts over railroads and other
l avenues ~ commerce ~ the course -
| our inNsSiig tons a number 81 native
| plants bavn haeu discovered which promls
4 10 be ~ great value aandhinders and
/ some o. them also ss saufcca ~ fa-arc
Drought Resisting Plants.
I IN the experiments undertaken at North
4 Yakima and AZ Wa1a wsla q large nun,
I her % grasses and fornrn plants nRFe been
tested "a 20 their ability 20 wilhsaaf
( drought and. IN many fascn Niso have
been grown under IRRIGATION A rar r
! the production ~ seed 10 b. distfihnfsH "a
the different po4ntR IN the feKtou where
Z their value under existing conditions raa Co.
2 tested Al N0rth Yakima TIE lard used
J 81 these experiments. althouNh riCa e.
( quite rocky and hence difficult 70 csEi.t.
: vatss and the general conditions ere much
Z Jess favorable thau those @firh prevail N
wans walls Al 'ha latter place. ths coli
+ Is a rich. vcicaule ash. and IN fire cendf.
ton for faN various 0gfra lions Nannertesi
wiih cultivation and = - sraaed ihrt lrri-
I During tus present year a considerable
Z amount ~ seed has been produced a.
I ueuiafiy A. the Walls Wslla Rtaftnu amsi
tais vii he uas1 IN the iEvestigafions -
b the coming year
In ihs experimeuts made a. waiia wal.
1 is during tAe gast gaaF about 10 wartss
I tles ~ grasses and forage crolsa have eseH
I tested Theae include most n size rftsr.
I molly cultivated sorts varieties rerarffs
7 Introduced by the Departments - swsiasli-
Z iufe. through IT. special agents " far.
I egEu countries, and many native stjtr fes
Z particularly those az ths neeky usfa-
4 iaIns ard the regiqn east ~ the Cas-
! rades H0Et - she seeding ~aa none
Z during the first hslf ~ April
~ fhe varieties tested sanns twenty r We
/ ~ more haze shown fhsuse sea 10 D.
1 ADAPTED 10 fhs conditions which prevail
/ IN ire NGftaWeRi and have. Ia unst
/ ensea given excellent results ~ithpnf ~
! tYHciai watering ~ euF sorf These IN
| elude varieties sdnufsd 80 ell me veriaus
| uses IN feeding stock varieties suitable
! for The ordinary rnHadgWs and pastures
/ ard also those adapted fnr nae on the
| arteT nulands They also iuclads snnual
/ varieties suitable FOR use IN short ~
fatfnnp and varieties aaarrsd IN aQiis
| strongly frmpregnated with aikAN Tne