The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1910-02-12
STUDIES or POISONOUS PLANTS.
Investigations in the National Forests

Investigations in the National Forests.
The poisonous plant Investigations
on the various national forests are con.
tinued during the present season. For
several years the forest service, In CO
operation with the bureau Of plant in.
dustry. has been making these studies
on the national forests, which has been
OF distinct value TO stockmen While
the number is OF necessity limited,
every effort Is made to give prompt
attention to localities 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 practically
useless on account OF these plants, or
If used, the losses by death are so
heavy AZ to materially cut into the
profits of the business. While no gen
eral plan OF Kidding the range Of these
plants has yet been devised it has
been possible by close study OF a
poison range to determine the particu-
trouble. Many times an exhaustive
study of the plant has proved that it
occurs only on small areas, which
could easily be avoided. rOther pois.
onous plants like the lupine, or wild
pea, have been found to he 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 Manti
national forest in Utah. Considerable
loss by death was sustained each year
among sheep being taken over an old
established trail to summer ranges
Upon inv estgation by an expert it
was lefaned that the immediate cause
of death @as a species of chokecheEry,
upon which the hungry sheep browsed
as they passed over the trail Having
determined the specie of plnnt re.
sponsible for the losses, the remedy
was simple, but effedtUali Certain 'por.
tions et-the~old trail We're abandoned,
and along other portion the chokeber-
ny bushes were cut out, The method
of handling the sheep WAS also chang
ed, Instead of large bands which
could be moved but slowly smaller
bands were tTailed, and so far as pos.
sible they were allowed to fill on
healthy forage before entering the
dangerous area, The trail was also
improved wherever practical, and by
this means it was possible TO get the
sheep though in much better shape
and with little or no loss.
Areas where poisonous plants are
particularly Plentiful were tagged
by the forest rangers, so that the herd.
ers may have warning of their condi.
ton. and where the area involved il
not too great in extent, fences are
built around them so that stock like
horses and cattle could not reach
them. 1t is believed that some OF
these poisonous plants can be choked
out by planting certain aggressive
grasses, which in time will take full
possession Of the ranges. Other plants
like the wild parsDtp, which is 50 fatal
to cattle, grow to such hight as to be
easily seen, and are not SO numerous
but that they can be completely Grad,
icated from 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 stock owners in
protecting their stock from death by
these plants. .-