THE CARE OF THE RANGE 229 



these larger ones furnished fine feeders for them, and 

 thus by a series of natural but unfortunate conditions a 

 system of drainage was put into effect that was suf- 

 ficient to drain off almost every drop of water that fell 

 on the surface. Instead of soaking into the soil it ran 



Old Stock Trails Washed Out, Forming Arroyos in Meadow Land. 



off just as rapidly as it could, taking with it the valua- 

 ble topsoil and cutting deeper and deeper those washes 

 or arroyos which today have seamed and scarred the 

 western ranges in every direction. 



Follow down the main Santa Fe road in northern 

 New Mexico and one can see from the train and close 

 to the track the signs of these trails for many miles, 



