BOTANY 



WEATHER COx\DlTiOXS AND THE GRAZING RANGE 



Due both to the shortage and untimely distribution of rainfall, 

 the year ending with June 30, 1918, was a very serious one for the 

 grazing industry. The rainfall for the period, July to September, 

 1917, was generally above the average over the State. At Tucson 

 it was 7.09 inches, or 66.6 percent of the total precipitation for the 

 year. Following this, there was practically no rainfall thruout the 

 State during the three months, October to December, inclusive. 

 The excellent growth of grasses and other forage plants that began 

 with the summer rains ended by the first of October. This reduced 

 somewhat the forage growth. However, the long dry fall favored 

 the natural curing of the grasses on the ranges. It was remarked 

 during the winter season that, even with short feed, stock were 

 looking well. With average winter and spring rains, grazing con- 

 ditions would have been satisfactory. 



The winter rainy season began with the second week in Janu- 

 ary and ended in the latter part of March. It was o; rather short 

 duration and the precipitation was about one-half the average 

 amount for this period. A few light showers of almost no conse- 

 quence fell during the three months, April to June, 1918. In addi- 

 tion to the above shortage of moisture, the summer rains over much 

 of the State for July to September, 1918, inclusive, were only one- 

 half the average precipitation for this season. Much of the rainfall 

 during the past year came as light showers and hence did not wet 

 the soil to any depth. 



On account of the above conditions, losses of stock on the 

 ranges have been necessarily heavy, and, but for the fact that many 

 animals have been shipped out to be sold or fed, the losses would 

 liave been heavier. A trip over much of the grazing part of the 

 State in July and August, 1918, showed that the grazing ranges, 

 generally, were in very bad condition, and that large numbers of 

 stock must continue to be shipped out before another season or 

 else be fed. The only grazing districts observed to be in fair con- 

 dition were those about Flagstafif, Williams, Linden, Lakeside, 

 Showlow, Prescott, Pine, and Payson. The rains in September 

 were light ; at best they came rather too late in the season, except 

 at altitudes below 4.000 feet, to result in much additional growth. 

 Some feeding with native forage and concentrates has been 

 done. In a number of instances singed chollas and prickly pears 

 have been fed in considerable quantity on southern Arizona ranges. 



