RANGE IMPROVEMENT. 



315 



The classic experiment in rotation grazing is that carried on by the Forest 

 Service in cooperation with Mr. C. P. Turney on the Jornada Reserve near 

 Las Cruces, New Mexico. This has been described in detail by Jardine and 

 Hurtt (1917: 28), and their conclusions as to range improvement by natural 

 revegetation are given here : 



"Primarily as a result of (1) reducing the number of stock during the main 

 growing season of about four months — July to October — to about half of the 

 average number the area will carry for the year, (2) not overstocking during 

 the other eight months, and (3) better distribution of stock watering places, 

 grama-grass range on the Jornada Range Reserve has improved in three 

 years at least 50 per cent as compared with similar adjoining unfenced range 

 grazed yearlong. 



50-acre pasture 



100-acre pasture 



y Scales Nj 



Corral leading 

 to scales 



\S 



Corral 



leading to 



branding 



chute 



Corral for 50 a. 



/ 



e 



T 



Plank corral for 100 a.and 

 for cutting out to weigh 



Tank 



/ 



Corral for 30 a. 



Corral for 70 a. 



40 ft. 

 Shed 



M ft. 



74 ft. 



30-acre pasture 



70-acre pasture 



Fig. 24. — Arrangement of corrals, sheds, and scales, Mandan, North Dakota. 



After Sarvis. 



"On fenced grama-grass ranges of the Southwest where the stock are car- 

 ried mainly on range feed throughout the year, light stocking during the 

 growing season is profitable. It will probably not reduce the total animal- 

 days feed furnished on a given area during the year, and will reserve feed for 

 the critical period from February to July, and later in case of prolonged 

 drought. 



"Where the whole of a range unit is made up of grama or similar grass, 

 about one-third of the area should probably be reserved for light grazing 

 during the growing season two years in succession. Each third in turn should 

 be given as nearly as practicable this amount of protection. By light grazing 

 is meant grazing by not more than half the average number of stock that the 

 area will carry for the year as a whole. " 



