vent the seed maturing and falling to earth. The plant itself has
been several times carefully examined, its juices tested and
experimentally administered to various animals. But no absolutely
satisfactory explanation of its effects has been given out; and
certainly no antidote or cure of its effects suggested.

Well, in a certain year the seven years' cycle came round; faithfully
the loco plant cropped up all over the plains, the seed that had lain
dormant for many years germinated and developed everywhere. As winter
approached (in October) my fall round-up was due. Calves had to be
branded, some old cows sold, and some steers delivered. I had sold
nothing that year. On rounding-up the horses many of them showed signs
of the weed. The neighbours flocked in and the work began. Only one
round-up was made, when the idea seized me that if these cattle were
"worked" in the usual way--that is, jammed round, chased about and
"milled" for several hours--they would get tired and hungry, and on
being turned loose would be inclined to eat whatever was nearest to
them--probably the loco plant. It seemed so reasonable a fear, and I was
so anxious about the cattle, that I ordered the foreman there and then
to turn the herd quietly loose, explained to the neighbours my reasons
for doing so, but allowed them to cut out what few cattle they had in
the herd: and the year's work was thus at once abandoned. All that
winter was a very anxious time. Reports came in from neighbouring
ranches that their cattle were dying in hundreds. On driving through
their pastures the loco appeared eaten to the ground; all the cattle
were after it, and poor, staggering, crazy animals were met on the road
without sense enough to get out of your way. By the end of next spring
some of my neighbours had few cattle left to round-up. One neighbour,
the largest cattle-ranch in the world, owning some 200,000 head, was
estimated to have lost at least 20,000. And meantime how were affairs
going in my little place? It will seem incredible, but what is here
written is absolute truth. The loco was belly high; the self-weaned
calves could be seen wading through it; but ne'er a nibbled or eaten
plant could be found. I often searched carefully for such dreaded signs
but happily always failed: and I did not lose a single cow, calf or
steer, nor were any found showing the slightest signs of being affected.

Many reasons were advanced for the miraculous escape of these cattl