94 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. 



made of the forage plants and forage conditions in the West at differ- 

 ent seasons of the year, and particularly in the autumn, when the 

 range is at its best and the opportunity is excellent for collecting and 

 studying the grasses and forage plants. Too much attention can not 

 be paid to the native grasses which are already adapted to unfavor- 

 able conditions of ordinary vegetation. The work that has been done 

 at Abilene, Tex. , and the work that is now being carried on at Tucson, 

 Ariz. , gives assurance of remarkable possibilities in the restoration or 

 improvement of the great cattle ranges and pastures of the West by 

 judicious management and reseeding. 



One familiar with the well-grassed meadows and hillsides of the 

 Eastern and Middle States can form little idea of the utter desolation 

 and barrenness of hundreds of thousands of square miles of territory 

 in the West that formerly supported untold numbers of fat cattle. 

 This condition has come about through overstocking the ranges and 

 mismanagement of the land. The experiments already made lead us 

 to believe that these now desolated areas may be restored to their 

 former productiveness. Our knowledge of the habits and capabilities 

 of our native grasses and forage plants makes this assurance doubly 

 sure, for in them we will find the means of again covering the ground 

 with nutritious herbage. If the land is again regrassed the precipi- 

 tated moisture will be preserved and prevented from running off in 

 torrents and carrying with it the best plant food in the soil. To us it 

 appears that Government range reserves would have an importance 

 fully equal to the forest reserves, about which there is no question, 

 and if properly handled might play even a greater part in the conser- 

 vation of the precious moisture of the semiarid regions. It is a work 

 which affects the entire live-stock interests of the country, and its 

 demonstration in such States or Territories as may be selected for the 

 purpose will enhance the value of the range lands of the entire West. 



In the pomological investigations very encouraging results have 

 already been obtained in the important new work inaugurated in the 

 matter of extending our fruit markets. It is believed that a promis- 

 ing field is open for the fruit growers of this country if certain impor- 

 tant principles can be worked out and understood, especially those 

 pertaining to the best means of handling, storing, and shipping the 

 fruits. The markets of Europe are open to us, and there is no reason 

 why we should not greatly extend our market possibilities by taking 

 advantage of the demand for good fruits abroad. To accomplish this, 

 however, will need careful investigations in order to enable our fruit 

 growers to know definitely the best means to adopt in order to get 

 their product across the water in good condition. These are some of 

 the new problems being pushed in the pomological work, and for the 

 extension of which additional funds are required. 



