The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-07-31
LOOKING FOR
POISON WEEDS
8otanist Of Agricultural Depart
msnt Comes to Utah.
TELLS OF INVESTIGATIONS
EFFORT TO STOP LOSSES OF CAT
TIE, SHEEP AND HORSES.
ELLIS OF INVESTIGATIONS

+. V Wilcox, botanist OF the de-
partment OF agriculture, who has been
in the southern part of the state MAX
Ing some Investigations in relation to
poisonous weeds found on the Utah
cattle range, stopped over in this city
last night on his way TO Logan NJ
Wilcox las spent several weeks in the
vicinity Of Salina. He will look over
the range around Logan and then
proposes to go TO Cedar mountain.
Nnere he viii continue his researches.
me special purpose of this investi-
gauon Is TO determine what weeds arc
iouud on the Utah range that cause
losses OF cattle. sheep and horses and
determine if possible what can be done
10 counteract this loss Mr.. Wilcox
reports that he has found the range
mere 10 be freer of poisonous weeds
thdn almost any range he has exam
med and that the grass is in fine con-
uition this year. He is very faVOra bly,
impressed with conditions and has
made suggestions To the cattlemen as
10 what to do 10 reduce the danger
from these weeds to a minimum In
talking about this work last night Mr..
Wilcox said.
Weeds That Cause Trouble.
Il have found only two weeds that
are causing the stockmen of this state
any trouble These are the acohite
plant and the larkspur. There are one
or two others. but only half dozen
punches were found and they were not
worth counting i'm. / have also found
weed that 7 believe is responsible for
the big head among sheep. but about
that 7 am not certain yet.
The aconite and larkspuT / found
only i'm attitudes above 1000 feet. and
always around stagnant water. These
q rt1n frrT in,
places and they cause considerable loss
The acOnite is the more poisonous and
causes greater loss than the larkspur.
These weeds are both tail and have
small flowers on them. During the
months Of June and JULY they grow
ana are most poisonous. After that
time they begin 10 dry up and the cat
Tie do not eat them. In fact the plants
would not be touched at all by cattle
were il not for the condition of the
range. When the grass is short and the
cattle are hungry they viii eat these
weeds regardless Of their exceeding
bitterness. When the range is i'm good
condition and there is plenty of grass.
II Is rare thing that any cases OF
poisoning occur from these weeds.
Grow Around Watering Places.
THEY grow of course around water
ing places and it is here that the cattle
get. them most. In order to remedy
ihis | have suggested that all water
ms places be planted with grass seed
and that particular attention be given
10 Keeping good growth of grass
around these places so there viii be
10 temptation for cattle to touch the
weeds Then, too, the growth of the
grass chokes out the other plants.
OF course the only way to remedy
conditions on the range is to take bet
ter care OF 1t and not permit it to be
eaten down prOmisCuOusly TO such an
extent that tho cattle viii be forced
To eat the weeds. This can only be
done through the cutting up of the pub
lie range into private tracts that Will
be taken care of by the owners If
lhis rs done and care is taken 10 SOW
grass TO keep up the growth. the dan
ger VIII be reduced to the minimum
The effect Of the aconite the most
deadly plant, Is very peculiar Horses
VIII not eat IL. Cattle eat it and II
makes them sroth ut the mouth A
sensation Of dryneSS is produced in tn
throat and the action of the heart is
weakened The animal starts To run
for water To relieve the thirst and
drops dead from weakened heart There
are number of antidOtes for the poi
son. but usually il acts too quickly for
the antidote to be used.
Is Like Opium.
sheep eat the weed and if seems to
fasten itself upon them like the opium
habit upon a person. 1t makes them
froth at the mouth, vomit and act
queerly. but if they recover from its
effects. as they usually do they will
eat Ii again every chance they get. It
is the same way with loco weed Sheep
cannot be broken of the habit Of eatinl,
II unless they are kept away from H.
While on my trip l heard a great
deal about the big head among sheep.
but was unable To find a case of it,
However. 7 have found a weed calleI
shad scale. that is believed TO be the
cause of the trouble. This weed has
short. sharp stems that prick the flesh
and viii make mans flesh swell to an
enormous proportion IL is the theory
that the sheep prick their heads with
the weed while eating and this causes
the swelling that kills them"