38 BULLETIN 1001, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Relatively little 16 is known of certain steps in the life histories of 

 some of the best of our native forage plants, and almost nothing of 

 what may be necessary in order to get more abundant reproduction 

 of such plants. Some such experimental attempts have been made — 

 mostly by planting seeds — but nearly all such efforts have given 

 negative results. Some attempts at saving the run-off have proved 

 partially successful, but they are rather expensive [74]. Further 

 studies in these directions are amply warranted, especially with 

 respect to the treatment to which seeds of certain valuable forage 

 plants should be subjected in order to secure sure and rapid germi- 

 nation and growth. 



Some results oj experimentation. — Carefully conducted experiments 

 on the Jornada Range Reserve in south central New Mexico, by the 

 Forest Service, in cooperation with an experienced stockman, have 

 yielded some very accurate figures that are practically conclusive 

 proof of the advantages of an improved type of range management 

 possible only on fenced land. This reserve contains approximately 

 200,000 acres of mountain and plain grass-land, mostly of forage 

 type No. 2, the semi-desert grass land (see p. 14), and carries from 

 3,000 to 5,000 head of stock, depending upon the annual climatic 

 variations. 



The annual reports of the Forester contain the following data : 



The losses from all causes in 1915 were 1.9 per cent; in 1916 1.5 

 per cent; in 1917, 1.8 per cent; in 1918, 3.5 per cent, and in 1919, 

 1.5 per cent. In a herd of 500 selected cows that were carefully 

 managed, the loss in any year has not exceeded 1 per cent. Esti- 

 mates of losses of herds on unf enced ranges in the same region show 

 about 15 per cent for 1917, and range from 15 to 50 per cent with an 

 average of 25 per cent for 1918. Cattlemen in New Mexico ordinarily 

 estimate their average losses at 10 per cent. 



The average calf crop on this reserve for 1916 was 72 per cent, with 

 81 per cent for the selected herd and 69.2 per cent for the main herd. 

 For 1917 these figures were 64 per cent, 68 per cent, and 61 per cent; 

 while in 1918 they were 62.2 per cent, 80 per cent, and 55.4 per cent, 

 and in 1919 43.0 per cent, 52.0 per cent, and 41.8 per cent, respec- 

 tively. The estimated caff crop for the State is as follows: Normal, 

 about 50 per cent; 1917, 33 per cent; 1918, 30 per cent, and 1919, 

 25 per cent. 



The results obtained on this controlled range are thus shown to be 

 about 50 per cent better than the average for the State, though the 



K The writer would be the last to belittle in any way the careful work that has been done in this field, 

 much of which is not yet published. He knows too well the difficulties of the subject. But the fact remains 

 that very much more information is necessary. It is a notable fact that on much of the range country 

 to-day, some of the more important forage plants are accidentally introduced European weeds. Such a 

 condition suggests the great possibilities of properly selected introductions. Information as to the best 

 methods of securing germination of the seeds of the more valuable native range plants is still scanty, yet 

 such information would be very valuable in securing rapid recovery on ranges that have been practically 

 denuded. 



