21 



possible the rate and percentage of improvement in the different pas 

 tures under the different methods of treatment. These experiments 

 will be carried on for three years, at the end of which time sulffciently 

 definate results ought to be secured to enable the stockmen to decide 

 what is the most practical method of bringing back the grasses. On 

 the cultivated land a large number of species Avill be tested in regard 

 to their adaptability to semiarid conditions. Not only will the seeds- 

 man's lists of grasses and forage plants be drawn upon, but a special 

 effort will be made to cultivate such native plants as tallow weed, 

 Metcalfe bean, Texas pea, and Buffalo pea. From the results thus far 

 secured at the close of the first season's work, it would appear that the 

 land which has been disked is improving at the most rapid rate. Even 

 at the rate of 40 cents per acre, which was paid for the work, this 

 treatment costs fully one-third less than simply resting the land with- 

 out treatment, and more than enough grass can be secured from the 

 disked land the first year to pay for the cost of the labor. 



The best results have accrued from loosening the surface of the 

 ground in early spring before the grasses commence their new growth. 

 It stimulates the roots of such grasses as are already established, 

 causing them to grow with renewed vigor. At Abilene at the close of 

 the season (October 15, 1898) it was estimated tliat the grasses on land 

 which had been disked in the early spring had improved at least 25 per 

 cent in carrying capacity — that is, there was 25 per cent more grass on 

 the land at the end of the first season than appeared on adjoining pas- 

 tures which were not treated in any way. Both pastures were grazed 

 with the same amount of stock and treated as far as possible alike. 

 The experiments here referred to were commenced in the spring of 

 1898. 



REST VERSUS ALTERNATION OF PASTURES. 



A great many of the stockmen who have rei)orted concerning the 

 state of their ranges have suggested that the resting of the land would 

 be the cheapest and most practicable method of again bringing it up 

 to its highest value. Eesting is an excellent treatment wherever suf- 

 ficient grass remains to reseed the land. It is, however, not the most 

 rapid method, nor can it be considered the cheapest when one takes 

 into consideration the fact that the land to become fully regrassed 

 must be rested sometimes three or four years. Complete resting of a 

 pasture is really a more expensive means of improving the pasturage 

 than many would suppose. As shown above, in the case of range 

 deterioration through the growth of cactus, the grass on an acre of 

 land on a section capable of carrying 04 head of stock cattle is worth 

 66 cents per acre when the cattle are appraised at a valuation of §20 

 each. At this rate the cost of the renewal of the pasture in the course 

 of a few years would amount to very nearly the value of the land. 



