34 KANGE INVESTIGATIONS IN ARIZONA. 



there is very little grazing on this territoiy except by sheep during 

 the winter season. 



A rancher near Ashfork, who pastures 1,000 head of cattle, this 

 number of stock now having the entire run of land composing nearly 

 eight townships, thinks that they could be carried with perfect safety 

 on four townships. This gives 92 acres to 1 liead, which seems to be 

 a liberal allowance, and the lands would probably carr}^ stock at the 

 ratio of 1 ])ovine animal to 100 acres indefinitely. 



The higher lands in the San Francisco Mountains of course produce 

 much more abundanth^ than the bench lands at lower altitudes or in 

 the valleys of the Colorado and the Little Colorado. Practically no 

 grazing is done here, however, except in the summer season, and an 

 estimate of the carrying capacity must, therefore, be made on an 

 entirely different basis. The better lands here would probably sup- 

 port 1 sheep to 5 acres during the grazing season from May to Novem- 

 ber. This, according to the usual method of calculation, would mean 

 1 steer to 30 acres for the same season. 



Twice during the past season the goat ranch of Mr. Joe Maj'er, at 

 Mayer, Yavapai County, Ariz. (PI. VII, fig. 1), was visited. Mr. 

 Mayer has run goats for a number of years on the same territory, and 

 his estimate of the carrying capacity of this ranch is probably as accu- 

 rate as can be obtained at the present time. During the course of a 

 conversation in July Mr. Mayer stated tliat, as nearly as he could 

 judge, he is using between 3 and 1 acres of land for each animal. The 

 estimate obtained from one of the herders of the area grazed during 

 the season gives a somewhat higher allowance for each animal. It 

 should be borne in mind that this estimate can not be reduced to terms 

 of bovine animals veiy safeh^, because goats thrive upon vegetation 

 which is not eaten by cattle or, if eaten, upon which they can subsist 

 but a short time. The ranch is located in the mountains where scrub 

 live oak abounds, upon which the animals live exclusivel}^ for a large 

 part of the year. 



WATER FOR STOCK. 



One of the most perplexing problems of the ranchmen throughout 

 the Territory is that of the proper distribution of water for stock pur- 

 poses, and every contrivance known is emploj-ed to secure this most 

 important adjunct of the stock business. Besides the natural supplies 

 of springs and streams, wells and surface tanks are commonly used. 

 Many regions are so remote from available water supplies that they 

 are not grazed except during the cooler or more moist portions 

 of the 3"ear, when stock can endure long periods without water, 

 or when there is temporary water in the rivers, arroyos, and natu- 

 ral tanks. Water is so difiicult to secure in many places that the 

 lands can not be grazed even during this season. This condition is 



