302 ARID AGRICULTURE. 



range is the only dependence through the year, 

 the area required will vary from thirty acres to 

 fifty acres for each head of cattle or about one- 

 tenth the amount for each sheep. Sheep bite 

 closer than cattle and also eat many weeds and 

 browse, not so well suited to cattle. Horses also 

 eat grass more closely than cattle and are more 

 active, so they can range over a larger area. 



WINTER There are considerable areas in the mountain 



region which are still classed as desert. These 

 deserts are not barren wastes of sand and vacant 

 ground, but support considerable forage. There 

 may be little or no true grass, but they generally 

 produce variable amounts of sage brush, grease- 

 wood, bud-brush, annual weeds, and most impor- 

 tant of all, shad-scale and other salt sages in a 

 number of varieties. These desert areas are far 

 away from water. The water found on them is 

 filled with salts and alkali so it is not fit for man 

 or beast. These lands are proving of great value 

 for winter range where snowdrifts supply moist- 

 ure for sheep. Sheep will thrive for some time 

 without any moisture and go through the winter 

 in good condition where they can get snow. The 

 eastern sheep-raiser thinks that sheep should not 

 be allowed to eat snow. Western sheepmen of 

 long experience testify that their sheep do even 

 better on snow in the winter than where they get 

 water to drink. The desert forage is remarka- 

 bly rich in flesh and wool forming food elements. 



