Semi-weekly herald., 1909-08-05
tainment OF their own people. as those
things are appraised from the latitude
of Havana.
INVESTIGATING POISONOUS
PLANTS ON NATIONAL FORESTS

tN 60 INN tNo IOtCOfNSSS
PLANTS ON NATIONAL FORESTS
--o-
The poisonous plant Investigations
on the various national forests are
being continued during the present
season. For several years the forest
service, In cooperation with the bu.
reau Of plant industry. has been max
Ing polsonout plant investigations on
the national forests which have been
Of distinct value to stockmen. While
the number OF such Investigations is
of necessity limited. every effort Is
ruade to give prompt attention to To-
calities where great or unusual losses
OF stock have occurred.
The annual loss from poisonous
plants In many localities Is quite heavy
and some ranges are becoming prac-
tically useless on account OF these
plants, or IL used the losses by death
are SO heavy as to materially cut into
the profits OF the business.
While no general plan OF riding the
range by these plants has yet been
devised, 1t has been possible by close
study OF poison range to determine
the particular species of plant respon.
sible for the trouble. Many times an
exhaustive study Of the plant has
proved that II occurs only on small
areas which could easily be avoided.
Other poisonous plants like the LII
pines or Wild Pea have been found
to be almost harmless at certain
times of the year. and at such times
may be eaten by all kinds OF stock
with little danger.
An Instance of the benefit OF these
Investigations Is found on the national
forest In Utah. Considerable loss by
death was sustained each year among
sheep being taken over by an old estab.
lished trail to summer ranges. Upon
Investigation by an expert 1t was learn
ed that the immediate cause OF death
was species of chokecherry upon
which the hungry sheep browsed as
they passed over the trail. Having
determined the species of plant re-
sponsible for the losses, the remedy
was simple but effectual. Certain por-
tions Of the old trail were abandoned,
and along other portions the choke
cherry bushes were cut out. The meth
of handling the sheep was also chang.
ed. Instead of large bands which
l hut eIn ar
bands were trailed. and SO far as pos
sible they were allowed to fill up on
healthy forage before entering the
dangerous area. The trail was also
improved wherever practicable and by
this means 1t was possible to get the
sheep through In much better shape
and with little or no loss.
Areas where poisonous plants are
particularly plentiful are Tagged" by
the forest rangers so that the herders
may have warning of their condition,
and where the area involved is not
too great In extent. fences az built
around them SO that stock like I. rises
md cattle could not reach theM Ii
Is believed that some of thees poison
Gus plants can be choked out by plant
Ing certain aggressive grasses which
Ia time will take full possession OF
the ranges. Other plants like the wild
parsnip which is SO fatal to cattle,
grow to such a height as to be easily
seen and are not so numerous but that
they can be completely eradicated
from a range by pulling them up by
the roots.
Cooperation between the ranger
force and the interested stockmen
promises to work wonders along this
line and every effort will be made
to assist the stockowners in project
ing their stock from death by these
plants.