Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-08-23
GOVERNMENT WILL
GO AFTER The
LARKSPUR
Serious Losses of Stock in the
Southwest Attracts Attention
of the Forestry Bureau to a
New Problem,

me serious losses which ave occur
red in scattered sections OF the range
in New Mexico and elsewhere IN the
southwest this season through grazing
of sheep on larkspur have served to
attract the attention of the forestry
bureau to a new problem. The new
pest has appeared i'm considerable
quantity on portions Of the Pecos for
est reserve and some losses have oc-
CURED in herds grazing on that re
serve.
a recent bulletin Of the forestry bu-
reau says of the problem:
Larkspur Poisoning.
The losses to the cattle men IN the
western states from larkspur poison
ing every year have been So serious
that the government is making a Wig
orous effort to find an antidotc for
the poison, as wen as to eradicate the
plant itself.
In the Gunnison national forest.
Colorado. the losses to the stockmcn
last season from larkspur were con
scrvativcly estimated To equal almost
i've per cent Of the total number OF
cattle grazed upon that forest.
Its effects are almost immediate
i'FbND lNIlNNN ilt cutting VI the HltIlA
within a few hours. For this reason
remedies are of little avail because
the animals are generally dead before
they are discovered.
Experts from the bureau Of plant
Industry. In cooperation with the for
est service, have made careful and
paiustakiuE Investigations I'm the field.
with a view OF %lesseutng the losses as
far as possible. while several different
ftI4Ra hns.. I..t, Hrf.H a., h,t... Af .,p4
pletclv destroying the plant
Larkspur grows very uNuriantlv i'm
the early spring on the Gunnisou
forest I'm June, 1906. the forest ON
GERS counted more than 1900 plants
Ia blossom upon a single square rod
The plant seems - he more poisonous
in hot, damp weather than In dry sea-
sons. and 10 has been observed that
when the ground Is hard and dry, SO
that in eating II the stems break Off
leaving the roots in thu ground. il is
not so deadly in its effects.
Since certain areas are wen known
70 ne badly infested with larkspur tho
stockmon have been In the habit of
hcrding their cattle from such places
As far as possible. these areas will bc
fenced hy the forest service. on 9th
er areas where IL Is not So plentiful
the plants win he dug out 10y the for
est and also moved of 20
prevent seeding again
10 has also been found that the plant
win not hold its own against certain
kinds ot GRASSES, such as timothy. \
few acres ~owed iu timothy. are be-
ing c|ar.fuIl, watched and 10 is be-
lievej that it is crowding the larkspur
out. % seems probable that hv sow
ing timothy on the mountain meadows
the lark@uur could be- gradually
smothrrcd aud replaced hy "a valuable
forage plant
n this plan is supported by COOL
evidence this season. timothy viii be
extensively snwed later ON Meanwhile
upon this. AS well as several other ma
forests whcrp the losses FROM
this plant are very serious. the build
ing of fences 20 Keep the cattle on
tho most dangerous areas is hoin~
pushed by the forest service. and viii
he continued as fast as funds are
available FOR the purpose J.
Mr.. J. O. Thomas. Of Crawford. /
Colo. made 40 experiment in feeding
the larkspur some years ago To- del