THE SOUTHWEST. 45 



ininicdiiitc vicinity of watciiiig phu-os, is iir^cd. Followiiii'" tho, dis- 

 cii.ssioii of tho. jibovc sul)j(H't.s, the ^Taziii^' rej^'ions in Texas and New 

 Mexico are ttdcen up and described. Tlie characteristics of the promi- 

 nent grasses and forage phints are given, with special reference to the 

 more important species and their vahie. Finally, the relation of land 

 laws to range improvement is considered, and the necessit}^ for some 

 method of control and management of the pul)lic grazing lands of the 

 West is pointed out. An estimati^ is made that an increase of at least 

 $25,OO(),0(»0 would result from the improvement: of the ranges even to 

 the extent of 25 per cent, which improvement has heen demonstrated 

 to be easily possible. 



Mr. C. C. Georgeson, Mr. T. A. Williams, Mr. II. L. Bentley, and 

 the writer have also done lield work in Texas. Mr. Georgeson visited 

 Texas in 1S98 for the special purpose of selecting lands and arranging 

 for experiments in range improvement. He visited Abilene and Chan- 

 ning, planning and inaugurating the work at T)oth places. Mr. Wil- 

 liams did some lield work in Texas in the spring of 1900. He visited 

 the experiment station at College Station and also the range-improve- 

 ment experiments at Abilene and Channiug. Mr. Bentle} , in connec- 

 tion with his duties as special agent in charge of the grass station at 

 Abilene, has done considerable held work and made collections of 

 seeds, roots, and specimens. His chief duty, however, has been the 

 carr3'ing on of the experiments in range improvement which were 

 undertaken three 3^ears ago on a section of worn-out pasture land situ- 

 ated near Abilene. As a result of Mr. Bentley's work and experience 

 in Texas he prepared Farmers' Bulletin No. Y2, on " Cattle Ranges of 

 the Southwest,"" in which the various problems are discussed in a con- 

 densed and non-technical manner. The various means to be used in the 

 renovation and improvement of the ranges are discussed and clearly 

 indicated. There is also a list of the promising grasses and forage 

 plants native of the Southwest, with illustrations and descriptions of 

 many of them. This bulletin has been in great demand and has done 

 much to arouse interest in the subject. Mr. Bentley has also written 

 a report upon the grasses and forage plants of centi"al Texas, which 

 was pu])lished as Bulletin No. 10 of this division. This bulletin cov- 

 ers much the same ground as the one just referred to, going into more 

 detail, however, on some points and giving a much more complete list 

 of the forage plants. It contains many valuable notes regarding the 

 native species and indicates which are most likely to prove valuable 

 under cultivation. It scarcely comes within the province of this bul- 

 letin to discuss the experimental work carried on at Abilene, as Mr. 

 Bentle}^ is now preparing a full report upon this work for publication. 

 It may, however, be well to state that it has l^een demonstrated that 

 disk harroAving of worn-out pasture land each si)ring for three succes- 

 sive seasons has doubled, in the estimation of three competent disin- 



