Show poisonous plants on forest reserves alio poisonous plant nn on tho various national forests are being continued during tho present season for several cars the forest service in co operation with alic bureau of plant industry has been making poisonous plant eions on tho nation il forests which have been of distinct value to stock men while the number of such investigations is of necessity limited every effort is made to give prompt attention to localities great or unusual losses of stock have occurred tho annual loss from poisonous plants in many localities is quite heavy and some ranges anro becoming practically useless on account of these plants or if used alic losses by death arc so heavy as to materially cut into alic fronts of alic business while no general plan of adding alic range of these plants hag yet acen devised it has been possible by close study of a poison range to determine the particular species of plant responsible for the trouble many times an exhaustive study of the plant lias proved eliat it occurs only on small areas which could easily bo avoided other poisonous plants like the lugines lupines or wild pea have been found to be almost harmless at certain tunes ot tho year and at lucli tunes m ly bo 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 sear among sheep being taken over an established trail to summer ranges upon investigation by an expert it was learned that the immediate cause of was a species of upon which the hungry sheep browsed as they passed over tho trail having determined the species of plant responsible for alio losses the remedy was simple but effectual certain portions of the old trail were abandoned and along other portions the chokecherry bushes were cut out the method of liand ling the was also changed instead of largo bands which could be moved but slowly smaller bands were trailed and so far as foible 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 it was to get alic sheep through in much better shape and with little or no loss areas where poisonous plants are particularly plentiful are nagged by the forest rangers so eliat the gerders herders may have warning of condition and where the area involved is not too great for extent fenced arc built arlund them so that stock like horses and cattle could not reach them it is believed that some of these poisonous plants can be choked out by pi inting certain aggressive grasses in time will tako full of alic ranges 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 eliat aliey can be completely eradicated from a by pulling them up by alie roots co operation cooperation between the ranger force and alio interested stockmen stoc kmen promises to work wonders along alna hue and every effort will be made to assist alio nars in protecting their stock from by plants |