DISTRIBUTION OF WATER 



297 



Cattle will go a long distance for water on fairly level ground, 

 whereas in a rocky canyon or on a mountain side they will not 

 travel so far. On reasonably level range, where the watering 

 places are not more than 5 miles apart, the grazing, as indicated, 

 is comparatively uniform; but, as the distance between watering 

 places increases above 5 miles, overgrazing invariably takes 

 place for a considerable distance around the watering hole, 

 whereas there is lack of proper utilization farther away (Fig. in). 



I Forest Service.) 

 Fig. III. — forage HEA\TLY OVERGRAZED AND VEGETATION DESTROYED BY 

 THE TRAMPLING OF CATTLE NEAR A WATERING PLACE ON A NEW 

 MEXICO RANGE. 

 The water-supply stations are more than s miles apart. Midway between the watering places the 

 forage is only partly consumed. 



On rugged, hilly range good use of the forage is not obtained if 

 the stock have to travel more than about i| miles for water. 

 For the best forage use it is well to have the watering places not 

 more than a mile apart on lands of irregular topography. 



Damage to the range caused by the watering places being 

 too far apart obviously reduces the grazing capacity. It is not 

 uncommon on the plains to see cattle that have been forced to 

 go out several miles for water become so famished that they drop 

 and die. If the animals survive the inadequate water supply, 



