10 BULLETIT^ 1031, U. S. DEPARTMEISTT OF AGEICULTUEE. 



The blackbrush-creosote bush type, composed mainly of a stand 

 of these two brush species with an under cover of grass, occupies 

 the level to slightly rolling area where clay to gravelly loam soils 

 predominate. This type varies from the blackbrush phase with an 

 under cover of tobosa grass, burro grass, and saltgrass on the more 

 compact clay soil to the creosote-bush phase with bush grass, grama 

 grass, and low tridens on the drier, more gravelly slopes and ridges. 

 Although the latter are yearlong range grasses, the occurrence of 

 this phase of the blackbrush-creosote bush type is too limited to 

 segregate it from the summer range for grazing. 



Tobosa grass is the most important forage plant in the three sum- 

 mer types, since it is the most palatable and abundant of the grasses 

 and the brush species are worthless as forage. Soon after the grow- 

 ing season this grass becomes dry and unpalatable to cattle, and if 

 not grazed before that time most of it is wasted. In fact fairly close 

 grazing of this species is essential during the growing season ; other- 

 wise the dead material remaining interferes with utilization of new 

 growth the following year. Close grazing during the growing 

 season does not easily injure tobosa grass because of its underground 

 method of revegetation, the compact soil it occupies, and the rapidity 

 and rankness of its growth. The burro grass begins growth early 

 and has its main value as forage before other vegetation has greened ; 

 after that time it is grazed but little. The saltgrass is another early 

 feed, but, like tobosa grass, is of little value after it stops growth. 

 These conditions and the high carrying capacity of the tobosa grass 

 type make these three types ideal for summer grazing in the South- 

 west. 



USE OF THE AREA PRIOR TO RESERVATION. 



Prior to 1912 a number of individuals had attempted to develop 

 water in wells and establish ranches on the land now within the re- 

 serve. The difficulty and cost of sinking deep wells, the prevalence 

 of droughts, and severe losses discouraged the small owners and their 

 range rights were eventually purchased by a single owner.'^ This 



■^ The range rights on this area were purchased previous to 1911 by Mr. C. T. Turney, 

 who is cooperating with the Forest Service in carrying on the studies. At the time of 

 the creation of the reserve the 200,000-acre range unit ^^as conceded to Mr. Turney by 

 neighboring stoclsmen under common or range rights established by the purchase of prior 

 rights and improvements of other owners and the construction of watering places on 

 unused range. He leases all State lands and owns private lands around most of the 

 wells. The Government furnishes the public lands under reservation. The experiments 

 are planned by the Government and the stockman, and carried out according to agreement. 

 All fencing, water development, and other construction work, as well as extra labor in 

 handling stock for experimental purposes, ai-e paid by the cooperator in lieu of grazing 

 fees on the Government land. The Government furnishes the men to keep proper records 

 of all experiments, to aid in the planning of new investigations, and to see that the work 

 is properly conducted. Prior to the coming of Mr. Turney to this part of the county 

 there had been no successful wells put down on the .Tornada del Muerto plain except one 

 very shallow well near Aleman, N. Mex. This broad expanse of dry plain even won 



