60 RANGE INVESTIGATIOlSrS IN ARIZONA. 



such an extent as to disable them. The areas of these grasses are 

 avoided during- the time of their ripening until the seed has fallen oti' 

 and partially disappeared into the soil. 



SUMMARY. 



The carrying capacitj'^ of the lands in xVrizona varies from the rate 

 of one bovine animal to 50 acres to one to 100 acres. 



Johnson grass appears to be the best adapted for preventing erosion, 

 and will thrive in favorable situations which receive two or more 

 irrigations by flood waters during the year. Bermuda grass does not 

 appear to be promising without irrigation. 



The valley of the Little Colorado, so far as much of its vegetation is 

 concerned, resembles the valley of the Rio Grande, but the 3deld of 

 feed is very much smaller. 



From the stockman's point of A'iew, the seasons upon the lower 

 southern areas are four in number, each differing from the others in 

 the character of the feed which is available. The two seasons of feed 

 production alternate with two seasons of short feed. 



(1) Middle of February to middle of April or lirst of May, charac- 

 terized by a growth of annual weedy plants, which furnish feed for a 

 short time. 



(2) First of May to middle of ,Jaly or tirst of August, having little 

 growth except of shrub])v plants, upon which stock largel}" subsist. 



(3) Middle of July to first of December, which is the season of the 

 best feed, being characterized b}^ growth of perennial grasses and 

 many other forage plants. 



(4) First of December to middle of February, which is the hardest 

 season of the year upon all stock. 



The growth of winter and spring annuals occurs mainly below an 

 altitude of -i.OOO feet. The best pasture lands are located principalh' 

 above an altitude of 3,000 feet. 



In southern Arizona a large part of the feed upon the lower unoc- 

 cupied lands is furnished by shrubby plants. The remainder of the 

 feed upon these areas, as well as upon the mesas below 3,000 or 3,500 

 feet, is furnished by annual weedy plants in the spring, together with 

 annual and a few perennial grasses in the summer, and in the higher 

 foothills and mountains b}' perennial grasses. 



Goat raisino- is on the increase, and it is believed that this industrv 

 will continue to develop. 



The total annual precipitation can not serve as an index of the char- 

 acter of the feed upon the range, its distribution during the hot sum- 

 mer season being of paramount importance. 



It is conuuon for cattle to travel 10 miles from water to feeding 

 grounds, and sheep are often herded *') miles iiway, making a total 



