16 BULLETIN 588, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



THE RESERVE AS A WHOLE. 



Of the 202,000 acres of the Reserve, approximately 10,000 acres 

 of the mountain area are inaccessible, leaving about 192,000 acres 

 either fully or partly used. From May, 1915, to April 30, 1916, 

 the average number of stock grazed, including weaned calves and 

 horses, was 4,632.16, or an average of one head to 41.45 acres of 

 usable range. Taking into account the surplus or shortage of forage 

 in each of the 13 pastures, the estimated carrying capacity of the 

 whole Reserve in its present condition and stage of development 

 is 5,030 head throughout the year, not including unweaned calves. 

 This is at the rate of 38.1 acres per head. The Reserve would no 

 doubt carry this many, provided, as at present, supplemental feed 

 were used to prevent the loss of poor cows*. This would be neces- 

 sary in a measure if only 4,000 head were grazed, as there would 

 still be some stock in need of special attention. These figures for 

 the Reserve as a whole are of interest merely as showing average 

 carrying capacity over large territory, combining plains, foothills, 

 and mountain range, such as is found throughout southern New 

 Mexico outside of the National Forests. 



As a whole, the range of the Reserve is in better condition than 

 the unfenced ranges and is better supplied with stock-watering 

 places. Aside from these advantages, better utilization can be 

 secured under fence. Consequently, for a similar area of unfenced 

 range in its present condition and development 50 acres per head 

 would be a conservatively low figure, if the range and stock are 

 to be kept in reasonably good shape. The carrying-capacity figures 

 for the main types of range, however, will serve as better guides 

 in estimating the number of stock a given range should support. 



GRAMA-GRASS (WINTER) RANGE. 



JORNADA RESERVE. 



The plains where grama grasses form the bulk of the forage con- 

 stitute, perhaps, the most important type of range in the Jornada 

 Range Reserve and vicinity. The investigations to date show that 

 this type in normal condition, if grazed lightly during the main 

 growing season, will furnish 365 days' feed for one animal per year 

 on from 20 to 30 acres, a<3cording to the proportion of range types 

 other than grama grass. 



Pasture 2 of the Reserve (fig. 2), containing 34,545 acres, has 

 supported an average of 1,045 head of stock, yearlings and above 

 each year for three years May 1, 1913, to May 1, 1916. From 

 May 1, 1913, to May 1, 1914, it supported an average of 1,260 head. 

 It is estimated that the surplus feed averages 20 per cent of the 

 total. The pasture, then, if fully utilized, would have carried an 



