8 Forest Club Annual 



elevations of between 6,000 and 12,000 feet over a plateau 

 which extends southeast through the northern and central 

 portions, is reflected in a wide variation in climatic condi- 

 tions and in the character and composition of vegetation. 

 With these varying though related conditions as a basis, the 

 range of Arizona may be divided into three main classes, the 

 winter range, the summer range, and the all-year range. The 

 following table indicates the correlation of temperature, 

 rainfall, and character of vegetation, with elevation, for 

 three fairly representative localities within these main for- 

 age classes : 



Early in the history of the stock business a system for 

 handling stock developed whereby each of the three main 

 range types were used at some time during the year. This 

 system has remained in its essential features throughout the 

 development of the industry. The mild winters of the 

 lower valleys and mesas, together with the usually abundant 

 short-lived winter annuals occurring there, make of these 

 areas excellent ranges during the time when the high plat- 

 eaus are snow-bound. As many stock winter among the 

 foothills, in the all-year range, as the forage and water sup- 

 plies will accommodate. When the spring droughts dry up 

 the forage and water supplies on the low mesas, the stock 

 on these mesas drift up toward the foothills, where the cli- 

 mate is cooler and where the serious effects of the drought 

 are not felt so early. The consequent crowding of this type 

 during the early spring usually removes all surplus vegeta- 

 tion by the time growth starts on the higher plateaus. By 

 the middle of May the congestion on the lower range is re- 

 lieved by a large portion of the stock drifting or being driven 

 onto the high forested areas, where they remain until the 

 fall storms force them back to the winter range. 



Until the National Forests were created, grazing over 

 the entire public domain was under no restrictions except 

 those imposed by the stockmen themselves. As a result of. 

 the lack of a central authority, trouble between sheep-men 

 and cow-men was frequent. The general practice was to 

 sacrifice the future carrying capacity of the range for imme- 

 diate returns; the range in many places was overstocked; 

 and dry years often found the stand of forage depleted and 

 very little water stored up to tide stock over. Small owners 

 had no recourse when crowded out of business by large own- 

 ers. Very few stock-men even considered the need of pro- 



