ARID AGRICULTURE. 305 



acres and still be maintained in their original 

 productiveness. As a rule, any range can be 

 brought back to its original value by merely giv- 

 ing it rest. Keeping stock off for three years en- 

 ables the grasses to re-seed and thicken up, and 

 will ordinarily be sufficient to entirely reclaim a 

 depleted range. 



Harrowing or re-seeding the range may be 

 practicable in some instances. Harrowing 

 greatly stimulates the growth of grass, conserves 

 the moisture and makes the plant food in the soil 

 available to plants. We have some drouth-resist- 

 ant forage plants native to the West, which may 

 be increased to advantage. The salt sages more 

 especially are promising for cultivation on alka- 

 lized soils. Western rangemen have found it very 

 profitable to destroy the prairie-dogs, which eat 

 large amounts of grasses. It is also probably 

 advisable to remove poisonous plants on certain 

 areas. 



NECESSITY Cattlemen are finding that it is no longer 



OP WINTER ., T r^i i ^i 



PEED possible or profitable to raise cattle on western 



ranges if grazing is the only dependence through 

 the year. The percentage of increase in cattle 

 on these ranges is too small, running from forty 

 to fifty per cent., and under the best average, 

 sixty per cent, of calves is considered an excel- 

 lent rate of increase. Where cattle are better 

 cared for on the ranch during the winter season 

 the increase may reach eighty per cent, or better. 



