ID. Leopold, L. B. 022

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Near Navajo church, two miles northeast of Fort Wingate, New Mexico, looking north 20 degrees east. In 1946, the formerly open spaces show an encroachment by sage. Grass between sage brushes of low density, 2- 10 percent, and consisted of ring muhly (mulenbergia porteri), with lesser amounta of Aristida Fendleriana, Sporobolus airoides, Hilaria jamesii. Sage in foreground obscures gullies 3-4 feet deep. Sage heavily grazed, some bushes nearly dead. Compare with Darton image 884 taken in 1901. Open spaces in 1901 covered with thin stand of blue grama grass; foothill slopes covered with sage (Artemisia tridentata) and scattered juniper trees. McKinley County, New Mexico. Circa 1946.

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