WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 939 



forma, is making its appearance in many of the valleys of this section. Its fatten- 

 ing qualities and rare vitality, however, make it a valuable addition to the native 

 <-s. A peculiarity of the alfilerillo is that however closely it is grazed it springs 

 anew after each rain ; apparently it is impossible to tramp it out. When the grasses 

 become dry upon the ranges they have all the nutritious qualities of hay, and stock 

 of all kinds thrive upon them, ^which, with the browse from the chaparrel, gives good 

 pasturage during winter. 



Alfalfa or lucerne is the only grass cultivated. It is grown to a limited extent in 

 the vsettlements of Apache County, on the Little Colorado, and in some of the valleys 

 of Yavapai County. This grass, unknown to the Eastern farmer, is exclusively culti- 

 vated in California and Arizona. It is of thrifty growth, is cut three to five times 

 per annum, and yields two tons per acre at each cutting. As hay it is most excellent 

 for horses and cattle. Each acre, when grazed, will keep two head of horses or 

 cattle the year through. 



Sheep-raising is extensively followed in the counties of Yavapai and Apache, which 

 contain more sheep than all the Territory besides. The average increase upon a flock 

 of ewes is 70 per cent per annum. They are shorn twice a year in spring and fall. 

 Each sheep averages 6 pounds of wool per year, worth 15 cents. The mutton sheep 

 bring from $2.50 to $3 per head. One herder will care for 1,500 head. He is paid 

 $25 per month ; so it does not require many figures to compute the profits. There is 

 much rivalry between the cattlemen and sheepmen, from the fact that cattle and horses 

 will not graze upon grass once passed over by sheep; but there is an extensive ter- 

 ritory so broken in character as to be undesirable for cattle ranges, and it is proba- 

 ble that sheep-raising will continue a leading industry for many years to come. 



Not more than half the grazing lands of northern Arizona are occupied. Many 

 valuable ranges are yet open to occupation, but without developing a water supply, 

 either by wells or storage reservoirs, a large area must remain vacant. 



It can be truthfully said that it will be only a few years when this district will sup- 

 port a million of cattle and a proportionate number of horses and sheep. 



There was published by authority of the territorial legislature of 1883 7 

 a The Besources of Arizona," by Patrick Hamilton, from which I make 

 the following extracts pertaining to the sheep industry during its early 

 beginnings : 



Arizona has been well called the stock-growers' paradise, and there is no region 

 in the United States that better deserves the name. There is no country where the 

 labor and expense is so light or where the profits are so high; there is no country 

 where the percentage of loss is so small or where the percentrge of increase is greater, 

 and there is none where a fortune can be more quickly realized. 



Arizona has also one other great advantage for the stockman. While in other 

 countries the area of grazing ground is becoming narrowed and its limits circum- 

 scribed by the steady advance of the farmer, here the immense plains, table-lands, 

 and foothills will never be utilized for any other purpose than grazing. The agri- 

 cultural industry will always be confined to the valleys bordering the streams ; and 

 the vast area included in the rolling plains and elevated hillsides will always be de- 

 voted to cattle. Most of this land is valueless for agriculture, but its wealth of rich 

 grasses makes of it a magnificent stock range. The cattle-owner who thinks of em- 

 barking in the business here need have no fear of being " crowded out" by the farmer.' 

 The domain of each is clearly marked by nature, and beyond the bounds which she 

 has set the tiller of the soil may not go. A good range once secured, the owner can 

 turn out his lowing herds over the broad savannahs and rolling foothills, and rest 

 assured that the farmer will not in a few years drive him out and force him to seek 

 fresh fields and new pastures. 



The short, sweet grass, which grows on the foothills and valleys, and of which the 

 sheep are particularly fond, keeps green nearly the whole year. While the wool- 



