Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-08-31

RUSSIAN THISTLE FORAGE Al
Recommended to Consideration OF
slleepmen to Grow Where Other
Vegetation Fails.
(special Correspondence.)

3
Ogden, Aug. s1.--Hon. James Wilson,
secretary OF tho United statos depart
nnent Of agriculture spent yesterday
in Ogden. the most OF the day being oa-
cupled in conferences with sheepn,en,
farmers and foresters. In the morning
q delegation Of sheepmen from Salt
Lake had o long conference with Mr..
I Wilson. IN the party were e. II. Calls-
ter. G, b. Stewart. Albert Smith. George
Austin, Thomas Austin and David
Smith. The secretary seemed eager to
learn all possible OF the woolgrowers'
interests as related to government graz +
ing privileges on tho ranges and forests.
s Mr.. Wilson called the sheepmen q at
tention to the despiBed Russian thistle
as a forage plant that gives much
promise of usefulness in districts where
no other vegetation Will thrive. He
said that In his trip across tho Red
desert he noticed that the Russian this
tie was In many places the
only Il sign OF vegetation. He said
that an analysts OF the this
& tie showed that 1t Is nutritious for stock
and that there IL as much nutriment5
end nourishment In q ton of Russian
thistles rs In an equal quantit OF hay.
Secy. Wilson encouraged the propasas,
ton or this weed, as cattle and sheep
eat it readily and can be made to
thrive where other vegetation is lack
ing The Russian thistle was looked
upon for years as the enemy of the
farmer and stock raiser, as 1T was be-
Iieved to be- poisonous and in addition
to that 1t grows so rank that the west
ern farmer has maintained continual
warfare against it.
Secy. Wilson'S callers spoke relative
to the grazing conditions and privileges
on the forest reserves OF this and adj
jacent states, and asked that the right
of parties grazing on the reserve lands
be protected, whether they were doing
business as individuals or as local corr
porations. They explained that many
OF the sheepmen In this country find 1t
necessary, and have for many years,
to cooperate or form associations for
handling their sheep more systematical-
W, as, in many cases individual bands
of Sheep are small. The matter
of transfer Of grazing rights. where
sheep are sold by one party to another,
was also touched upon. In response the
secretary assured his callers that the
matters of which they had talked would
be given close and personal attention
by him and that the matter Of CO.
operation among sheep owners on graz
Ing lands on reserves would be looked
after with particular care. especially
Where the owners of the sheep were
bonatide settlers of the state wherein
their sheep are grazed
Il Despite his "a years Of activity, Mr..
Wilson put in a strenuous day at the
forestry office, commencing at s o'clock
in the morning, and looked into every
detail OF the forestry office and granted
audiences to every stocknan who called
to see him relative to the privileges
Of the public range.
The Weber club rendered the veneer
able secretary a banquet in the after
noon, after which he returned to finish
the day in the office.
Speaking OF the purpose Of his pres
.ent visit through the west, Mr.. Wilson
said:
This trip is being made for the pur-
pose of becoming thoroughly acquains-
ed with the forest and agricultural con-
ditions in Idaho, Wyoming and Utah.
Idaho is the initial point, because from
that state complaints have been made
that the forest reserves encroach upon
agricultural interests. am going TO
find out whether this is true. l want to
make a personal obervation of the si.-
Iuation. Then can pass Judgment as
to what is needed.
THE report that I am at variance
with the policy of Chief Forester Gift
ford Pinchot Is not true. He and I are
In strict accord regarding the manage
lnent ane control Of the national for
ests A splendid work has been done in
this branch of the government and we
hope to accomplish even greater re-
suits that will rebound to the good OF
the people--the sheepmen. the cattle
men and the farmers.
My trip into this country Is Nt
being made because there Is a discord
between Pinchot and myself, but in tho
very best interests of the departments
which We represent.
Secretary Wilson was taken last
evening by David Ecclea in his auto
through Ogden canyon and on to
Huntsville in the beautiful Ogden val
ley. where the secretary had a pleasant
visit with Hon. David Mckay. ex-state
senator. AS both are Scotchnen, they
This morning at II o'clock Secretary
Wilson and party left for Idaho. He
will confer with the stocku,en of that
state at Pocatello this afternoon. Then
he goes to Maclsey and Spencer for the
same purpose, Mt the last named place
an inspection will be made of the
Targhee forest reserve.
5s35s' -----s--e--e----
GRAND GERMAN FESTIVAL.
September 2, 1909, at the Salt Palace.
Under the auspices of the United Ger