Timeey Hints for Farmers. 249 



THE OPEN RANGE AND THE IRRIGATION FARMER. 

 No. 22, November 15. (Condensed.) 



There is one aspect of the irrigating water problem, not often 

 discussed and upon which, indeed, very little accurate knowledge 

 exists, which is, nevertheless, of great importance in connection 

 with Arizona agriculture. 



This is, the relation between the open, grassy, range country 

 and the water supply available to the irrigation farmer. For many 

 years in the United States, and for a much longer time in Europe, 

 the connection between forest soil-covers and the amount and reg- 

 ularity of the flow of streams has been observed and studied; but 

 it may be stated with some confidence that the interests of irri- 

 gation in Southern Arizona and some other regions of like char- 

 acter, are affected more by the grassy, open range, than by for- 

 ested districts. The peculiarities of this range country, therefore, 

 as affecting the run-off of water and the flow of streams are to be 

 critically considered, and any change which is being brought 

 about in the ranges by the operations of stockmen, is of interest to 

 the irrigation farmer in Southern Arizona. It is true that exact 

 knowledge upon the past and present condition of the ranges is 

 scarcely to be had; yet historical evidence and existing facts are 

 such as to enable us to offer a fair judgment as to what is tran- 

 spiring about us. 



Especially instructive in this connection is the history of the 

 cattle industry on the Gila watershed, with the associated changes 

 in the grazing country. The Gila watershed above the Salt river 

 junction, and including that portion in New Mexico, is some 25,- 

 000 square miles in extent. For the most part, this great area 

 consists of grassy plains, intersected from north to south by moun- 

 tain ranges covered with forests on their higher slopes. Consid- 

 erable areas of the plains themselves, also, are here and there 

 sparsely covered with mesquite and other brushy growth. Tak- 

 ing this great drainage area as a whole, however, the prevailing 

 vegetation is, or once was, grass, probably 90 per cent of the total 

 area being mainly of this character. The watersheds of the Salt 

 and Verde rivers, 12,250 square miles in extent, have a larger 

 proportion of forest, but also contain great areas of grassy country . 



