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



(3) While much of the land is held under one form of tenure or 

 another, over 31,000,000 acres, although in continuous use, now lack 

 legal control. 



(4) From the best statistics available it is shown that the stock- 

 raising industry in New Mexico pays taxes on almost one-fourth of 

 the total assessed valuation of the property of the State and is prob- 

 ably the most productive industry in the State. 



(5) The present method of controlling the Government lands de- 

 pends upon the legal control of the stock water and a custom which 

 has the force of an unwritten law. This condition has arisen from lack 

 of legislation which takes all the conditions into consideration. No 

 type of legislation is here recommended, because it would be out of 

 place; but that some type of legal control is not only desirable but 

 very necessary for the further development of the industry is forcibly 

 urged. 



(6) The nature of the forage crops and their distribution are indi- 

 cated in this bulletin in general terms, as are some of the undesirable 

 plants, and methods of eradicating the latter are suggested. 



(7) The management of the controlled range is contrasted with 

 that now possible. It is shown that the present form of control can 

 result in nothing but overstocking. Closely cropped range plants 

 produce probably not more than one-third as much forage as when 

 they are allowed to mature before being grazed. Feed which is good 

 only in the summer, either by virtue of its kind or its position, can be 

 properly utilized only on a controlled range. The more or less regu- 

 lar recurrence of cycles of dry years makes the reservation of feed 

 necessary. This is rarely, if ever, possible on an open range. The 

 distribution of stock water is to-day poor when considered from the 

 standpoint of the demands of the business. Much could be done to 

 improve this condition, but the necessary expenditure is not war- 

 ranted while the right of control is so uncertain. Much damage has 

 been done to the ranges by erosion. Efforts to correct this condition 

 and to stop the consequent losses to the range and industry are not 

 warranted so long as a man may not know that he is to profit by his 

 effort. Reseeding operations will pay in some places, but the effort 

 and expense are not warranted without the guaranty of returns. 

 Fencing gives more complete control of stock and reduces the expense 

 of operation in many ways. It allows a better organization of the busi- 

 ness and makes the reduction of losses and increase of output possible. 

 It also makes the improvement of the quality of the stock possible by 

 giving control of the breeding operations. It renders the classifica- 

 tion and grading of the animals feasible, thereby tending to increase 

 salability. Protection from and eradication of diseases and all typos 

 of quarantine operations are much more easily applied to inclosed 

 areas, and some of the more desirable operations are impossible on an 



