304 ARID AGRICULTURE. 



IMPROVE- That depleted ranges may again be brought 



MENT OP 

 THE RANGE 



MEN ' into profitable grazing condition is well estab- 



lished. There is no inducement, however, to im- 

 prove the open range unless the ranchman is 

 able to control it. Wise range stockmen who are 

 in the business to stay have secured control of 

 these ranges either by lease or in the manner in- 

 dicated under our discussion of the water con- 

 trol. Many western farmers now own sufficient 

 areas of land to make the grazing of their stock 

 in pastures an important part of their business 

 and the grasses in these pastures may be con- 

 trolled and improved in a way that could not be 

 in the open. Many of our native grasses are 

 perennials with root stalks. In time all these 

 grasses will die if not allowed to re-seed them- 

 selves. They may be greatly stimulated and im- 

 proved by soil cultivation. A sharp drag har- 

 row or disc run over the pasture loosens the soil 

 and breaks the root stalks, which makes them 

 throw out new buds and stems. 



On the open range where associations of 

 stockmen control, the range may be kept in good 

 condition by preventing overstocking. Some 

 large operators do not allow more cattle on the 

 range than the proportion of one animal to each 

 fifty acres. This is a good suggestion for a 

 neighborhood of farmers or ranchmen who are 

 using the range in common, to pursue. Some of 

 our ranges will undoubtedly support as many 

 cattle as one head for each thirty or thirty-five 



