442 GRASSES AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



extent of such reduction, the causes that have led to it, 

 and the necessity, because of this, for a change in the 

 old-time system of grazing, will now be discussed. 



The Extent to which Grasses Have Failed. — While 

 the carrying capacity of the range has been much re- 

 duced in the aggregate, this reduction, by no means, ap- 

 plies equally to all parts of the range. On such por- 

 tions of it as are possessed of a clay loam soil, and 

 over which the grasses have formed a reasonably stiff 

 turf, the sustaining power of the pastures is not much 

 reduced. ]\Iuch of the range country in the northern 

 states and also in Canada is of this class. On those 

 areas, however, covered with soils, volcanic in origin 

 and which are easily disturbed by the treading of live 

 stock, the grasses have, in many places, grown thin 

 gradually, until they have almost or entirely disap- 

 peared. Wide areas exist, which at one time produced 

 reasonably good pastures, that are now absolutely bare. 

 These areas are chiefly found in portions of the central 

 and southern range states. In other localities, plants 

 of little or no economic value have taken possession of 

 the grazing lands in a greater or lesser degree. 



There has also been a shrinkage in the producing of 

 what has been termed hay meadow lands, from which 

 winter food supplies have been gathered. Through- 

 such shrinkage, the carrying power of the range has 

 been reduced in the aggregate, according to some esti- 

 mates looked upon as conservative to the extent of 20 

 to 30 per cent. 



Causes of Failure in Range Grasses. — Chief among 

 the causes that have led to reduction in the producing 



