42 



two species of black grama {Bouteloua eriopoda and Hilaria mutica), 

 aud the southwestern species of Sporoholus, Muhlenheryia, Aristida, and 

 Panicum. In the southern portion of the Phiins the number of species 

 of granias {Bouteloua) increases aud they, together with iZiiarm mutica, 

 form the bulk of the grass vegetation. The gramas of this region are 

 Bouteloua polystachya, B. oliyostachya, B. eriopoda, B. vestit((, B. curti- 

 pendula^ B. hirsuta, and B. ramosa. The number of species of Sporoho- 

 lus also increases, and Aristida arizonica, A. micrantka, and A. bromoides 

 take the place of the common dog-towu needle grass {A. fasciculata) of 

 the i)rairies. Because of the absence of running streams and surface 

 water for stock purposes, the Staked Plains have been less severely 

 overgrazed than the lower plains and prairies surrounding them. Now, 

 however, since it is found that water is fairly abundant aud within reach 

 of windmill power, the land is being rapidly stocked. The grazing 

 capacity is higher than m many other portions of the range country 

 which have been stocked for a much longer period. 



The best means of improving the range on the Staked Plains are, 

 first, to provide stock water at intervals not greater than 4 or 5 miles 

 apart, so that cattle will not have to travel more than 2h miles in any 

 direction; second, to provide winter shelter or protection from the 

 storms which have uninterrupted sweep over this table-land during the 

 winter months; and, third, to provide sufficient hay or coarse fodder to 

 feed the cattle during the heavy storms. 



On almost every ranch there will be found old lake beds, sinks, or 

 shallow valleys where the soil contains enough moisture within reach 

 of the surface to be readily available to the roots of cultivated i)lants. 

 On such lands sorghum, Kafir corn, milo maize, the millets, and iu 

 especially favored localities alfalfa, and perhaps the soy bean, can be 

 grown, and enough hay saved to provide against periods of shortage 

 either during winter or in time of drought. 



The carrying capacity of the Plains ranges from 40 to G4 head per 

 square mile. Assuming the preposterously low figure of 30 head per 

 square mile as the average annual grazing capacity, more than 1,000,000 

 head of cattle can be pastured. The capacity for improvement here is 

 as great as in any other part of the Southwest, so that with a Judicious 

 use of the natural resources the number can easily be doubled or 

 trebled within the next ten years. 



THE PECOS VALLEY. 



The Pecos Vallc}' in New .Alexico, extending almost due north and 

 soutli, from about the thirty-fourth parallel to the southern border of 

 the State, was formerly very well grassed. All of the living tribu- 

 taries of the Pecos below Fort Sumner enter it from the west. For 

 fully 200 miles below this ])oint there is no stream of any importance 

 which drains into the Pecos Jtiver from the direction of the Staked 

 Plains. The lauds iu the valley are exceptionally well located lor culti- 



