The Grit-advocate., 1906-06-08
PESTS OF The RANGE
WEEDS THAT enoANeER STOCK
by Colorado Agricultural Export
ment Station.
,Dy Geo. II. Glover, Veterinarians,


hrkspur. other poisonous weeds have
received some attention. From our
present knowledge of the subject it
appears that fully ninety-five per cen: =.
of the total annual loss can be attrib.
uted TO several species of five differ
ent genera of plants. namely. loco.
arksDUr. camas. lupme and hemlock,
1t is estimated in the state of Mon
tana that the annual loss from all poi
son weeds is not far from 100000,
and more than the loss from all other
causes of death by disease and acci-
dent combined. In this state it must
be nearly ii not quite as great
Some plants are poisonous at certain
periods of their growth and not others
Certain parts may be deadly while
others are comparatively inert, and the
quantity of poison may vary in the
same parts of the same species under
different conditions.
The majority of these plants are not
of sufficient importance commercially
to have been studied chemically and
the nature of this poison remains a
mystery.
Some plants not only perfectly harm
less ordinarily but furnishing most
desirable food, may under climatic and
other influences suddenly become
deadly. For example, the common po
tato wnen exposed to the sunlight de
Nelops and active principle called So
lOnlne and kaffiir corn under condi
tiOns of drouth and backward sea
son develops, when eaten by cattle, the
deadly poison, prusSic acid.
Indeed, it has been shown conclu
sively that the quantity of alkaloids in
the foliage of cinchOna leaves varies
greatly between day and night and on
cloudy and sunny days.
Whether it is true or not. that AMI
mails eat certain plants instinctivcly
when sick, certain it is that instinct
teaches them to avoid many dangerous
plants when left entirely to themselves
and not suffering from the ravages OF
hunger. 1t is a matter of common re-
port that animals left to themselves
for months on a badly infested range
escape harm, but as soon as they arc
driven in the roundup or to market
they reach for weeds right and left
that they otherwise would not touch
and become poisoned.
Most plants as they approach the
Towering period become coarse and
unpalatable, or the foliage dries up,
and even though they may be equally
as deadly are not freely eaten.
The acOnite or monk s hook is very
deadly at all periods of its growth but
seldom eaten because of its peculiar
bitter taste, and the tingling sensation
in the tongue.
There is one species of the rubber
plant, Octinelli richardsonii. which has
caused extensive loss among sheep in
Middle Park in the month of July. This
plant. according to report from Wash
ington. contains no poison, but forms
an indigestible, rlbbery mass in the
stomach, which proves fatal by OBJ
structing the bowels
The lupines grow abundantly in all
of the mountainous regions of this
state. If eaten, when wet from dew in
the morning. or from rain or snow, will
cause bloat the same as alfalfa or clo-
yer. Lupines are cut for hay in Mon
tana and the danger comes from cut
ting it for hay after ii has gone to seed
The poison appears to be confined to
the seed, and produces jaundiced con
dition, called lupinos,a.
We have several species of the car
rot family, which GO without disinc
ton us wild parsnip Here is good
example of the need of education
among farmers and stockmen. The
several species have a close resem-
blance in their characteristic UNI
bralla-shapcd tops, but differ greatly in
their toxic properties. The poison
hemlock tConium maCulatum) sup
posed to have been the death of Soc
rates. contains the alkaloid conine. and
4, 9th
is far more deadly. 1t is found grow
ing at high attitudes and in damp
places.
The water hemlocl1 tCicuta macu,
lata) is the one. because of its abun.
dance and deadly nature in doing the
greatest harm. It grows along ditch
places. The tops are poisonous early
in the season and the roots are eX.
tremcly poisonous at all times.
The water parsnip (Sium cicutae TO-
lium) somewhat resembling the others
is not poisonous. 1t grows abundantly
on the Gunnison river and its tribu-
tarieS.
Wild parsnip tPastinaca satira) the
common garden parsnip run wild, is
seen growing along the river in BOul.
der and in many places in the state.
1t is generally supposed to have be,
come poisonous in its wild state, but
this is not true.
The death camas tZygadenus venom
osus) is dangerous plant. 1t Is not
confined in it's, growth to shallow de-
pressions where there is slow seepage"
but in this state is found growing quite
luxuriantly on dry elevations. 1t has
bulb with a frail root stock and hence
is not easily pulled from the ground.
Because Of it's bulb it is often mistaken
for wild onion and prairie lily undian
sego). both harmless plants.
Camas is very deadly but dries up
early in June. Some disastrous cases
OF poisoning have been reported from
this weed in the month of May. One
man sent some of the plants to me for
identification. claiming that it had
killed ten milch cows for him inside Of
one hour.
The most important of something
like seventy-five different poisonous
plants reported, and not yet spoken OF
in this report, will merely mention Il
few worthy of more especial considera.
tion, and which should be made sub
jects for investigation in the future;
Swamp camas, egrol-and- scv.
eral species of the spurse family. es-
pecially SNOWY milkweeds: swamp he'll
leboe (skunk cabbage), night shade,
potatoes, under certain condition; KAT
fir corn and sorghum, prairie fennels,