4<) FTKLD WORK. oK DIVISION OK AGROSTOLOGY. 



tcre.sted .stockmen, the caiiyiiig capacity of the range. The eariying 

 capacity of the range at the l)eginningof the experiment was estimated 

 b_y the judges to l)e one head of stock to 10 acres. Stock Avas kept on 

 the land on this Ijasis for the next season, when it Mas estimated that 

 the carrjdng capacity Avas 1 to 10. Stocking was continued for the 

 next year at that i-ate, and in the same way until the close of the tliird 

 year, with the results given above. Partial results of this work have 

 already been pul)lished. In Division Circular No. 8 Mr. .1. G. Smith 

 gave an outline of the work as planned and inaugurated. In circular 

 No. 23 Mr. Bentley described the progress of the experiments during 

 the first two years. 



In New Mexico and Arizona the most unfavorable conditions are to 

 be met with. A great portion of these Territories lies within Avhat is 

 known as the Great Basin, and over considerable areas real desert 

 conditions prevail. The annual precipitation, while reaching in a 

 single limited area as high as 20 inches, is, over most of these Territo- 

 ries, between 10 and 1.5 inches, whilS in southwestern Arizona and 

 southeastern California there is an extensive region having an average 

 rainfall of 5 inches or even less (see map s). It will be readily seen that 

 where the amount of rainfall is so small as that indicated the question of 

 maintaining grasses and forage i)lants is a most difficult one. Notwith- 

 standing these untoward conditions a considera))le numl)er of good 

 grasses and forage plants have succeeded in surviving the struggle 

 for existence here and have become adapted to the environment. 

 We learn from the accounts of earl}^ explorers that large areas of 

 excellent grass lands were formerly found in this country, especially 

 in the valleys of the rivers. Our knowledge, however, of the ranges 

 of these two Territories as a whole is, even at present, quite limited. 

 Alany portions of the country have never been visited by anyone who 

 has given any special attention to the grasses and forage plants. The 

 first work carried on by the Division in this section Avas done l)y Mr. 

 C. li. Orcutt, who spent about three months here — from February to 

 May — in 1890, leaving San Diego, Cal. , going eastAvard to the San 

 Felipe Valley, thence to the Colorado Desert, and across the Mojave 

 Desert to the Colorado River. From here he Avent to Kingman, Con- 

 gress, Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, Maricopa, Tucson, Benson, and BoAvic, 

 thence across southern Ncav. Mexico l)y Avay of Deming to El Paso. 

 From El Paso he went northward up the Rio Grande to Albu(iuer(|ue. 

 and from thei'e westAvard by Avay of the Atlantic and Pacitic Railroad 

 across New Mexico and Arizona. The report of this Avork has not 

 been published. The season during which this AVork was done was 

 most unfavora])le for studying the forage conditions of this countiy. 

 The reason for this Avill appear more evident after an examination 

 of the average rainfall for each month in the year. Th(^ distril)u- 

 tioii of the rainfall here is quite different from that of any other 



