36 RANGE INVESTIGATIONS IN ARIZONA. 



breeding g-round for animals whicli are fattened elsewhere. It would 

 seem, however, that this would not be the case long, for the present 

 irrigation projects, when developed, will greatly increase the feeding 

 facilities of the Salt and other river valleys, so that many more cattle 

 can be matured. At present, and for a long time past, practically no 

 cattle leave the Territory in condition for the markets. This, how- 

 ever, is true at the present time of nearly all the native pasture 

 regions in the United States. 



Throughout the Territory, excepting in the vicinity of the irrigated 

 regions of the Salt and Gila valleys, no hay or other feed is furnished 

 stock. They live upon the native vegetation, consisting of grass, 

 weeds, or browse, depending upon the locality or the season of the 

 year. The main concern of the rancher is with branding, preventing 

 theft, and furnishing water. It will not be long, however, under the 

 present management of the live stock sanitary board, before thieving, 

 which has obtained so commonly and has been the means of ruining a 

 great many stockmen, will be a thing of the past. The scarcity of 

 water, coupled with the small carrying capacity of the ranges, compels 

 cattle to travel long distances. These distances would be considered 

 prohibitive upon the native pasture lands of the Great Plains; but the 

 development of water at intervals of 2 or 3 miles, such as is advocated 

 and practiced there, could not be thought of here on account of the 

 great expense and proportionally small returns. 



The readiness with which stock of all kinds adapt themselves to the 

 enforced conditions of shortage of water is remarkable. It is not, 

 however, without great loss at certain seasons, and it is those who 

 make the best provision for watering who are the most successful in 

 the business. The influence of a good supply of wholesome water is 

 very noticeable during the dry season from April to July. Abun- 

 dant opportunity was had during the past year for observation on this 

 point, inasmuch as the greater part of the dry season was spent in the 

 southern portion of the Territory. It was evident that cattle having 

 plenty of water and living upon mesquite and cat-claw browse were 

 able to live through tbis period in better condition than those upon 

 better pastures but with inconvenient water supply. 



It is not to be supposed that cattle go to water even once a day when 

 feediup- o-rounds are so remote. Indeed, the habits of cattle have 

 been so often observed by so many people that it is well known that 

 they very often, even during the hottest weather of summer, go to 

 water regularly only every second or sometimes every third day, if 

 the distance is very great between water and feed. Mr. Truax, fore- 

 man of a cattle company of Apache County, relates some of his expe- 

 riences in this matter. A few days before arrival at his ranch, on the 

 9th of August, he followed a bunch of cattle which watered at the 

 corral at daylight in the morning. About the middle of the afternoon 



