30 BULLETIN 211, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Thus in a number of ways the ability to subdivide the range into 

 pastures makes a much more effective utilization of the forage crops 

 possible and so increases the carrying capacity. 



TTie importance of reserve feed. — Attention has been called to the 

 variability of the climate of the region. It is as safe to prophesy lean 

 years in New Mexico as it was in Egypt in Joseph's time, and they 

 usually come in cycles of two or more seasons in which the precipi- 

 tation is below the average. Only two ways of adjusting the stock 

 business to these years of scanty growth are possible. One must 

 either reduce the number of stock or be able to fall back on a reserve 

 supply of feed. The forced sale of the stock nearly always means 

 financial loss, largely because of the condition of the stock. They 

 have been held in expectation that the rain will occur at what is 

 generally referred to as the usual time. The stock at this time have 

 just passed the season of poor feed and are not in first-class condition 

 for sale, and the longer the rain is delayed the poorer and less valu- 

 able they become. If the owner sells at this time, he is bound to lose 

 heavily. Yet, if the rain does come even late in the summer, growth 

 is so rapid that there will be feed enough to carry over to what may 

 be a better year. So he hopes and holds on. But if rain does not 

 come at all, the weak stock and many of the young will die. Thus 

 a large percentage of the breeding stock is lost and the next year's 

 crop much reduced. On much of the New Mexico range country two 

 or three such seasons hi succession will put many of the stockmen 

 out of business and kill thousands of animals. Yet these cycles of 

 dry seasons come, and everyone knows they will come again, but no 

 one can get ready for them, because he can not fence his range. 



Developing water. — Attention has already been called to the fact 

 that the control of the range is now maintained by the control of the 

 stock water. Of course, it must be understood that wherever there 

 is sufficient water for irrigation purposes it is always so used. In 

 New Mexico there is almost everywhere sufficient stock water to 

 supply all the animals which the range will carry, and in many places 

 quite a little more could be developed. This is one of the factors 

 which have made overstocking not only possible but unavoidable 

 under the present system of tenure. 



Wherever there is underground water within 500 feet of the sur- 

 face, the earth tank and cased well, with its big windmill and gasoline 

 engine, furnish a supply that can be depended upon. (PL VII, fig. 2.) 

 Such equipment is, however, the sign of the investment of considerable 

 money; the deeper the well, the larger the expense, and likewise the 

 greater the cost of use and maintenance. 



Springs and small streams are always used, unless the supply is 

 large enough for irrigation purposes. Just in the edge of the foothills, 

 where the flood-water channels open out upon the flats, sites may 



