448 GRASSES AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



also have to be met of finding ample supplies of water 

 for the live stock in each area so enclosed. The method 

 of re-seeding, through limited stocking of the enclosed 

 range, vcould also prove effective and it may be the 

 cheaper of the two in the end. By low stocking is 

 meant keeping down the number of animals kept with- 

 in the enclosure, so that a portion of the plants would 

 produce seed from time to time. 



Renewal through Sowing Seed. — The obstacles in the 

 way of sowing seed by hand are serious. First, about 

 the only range grass producing seed that is cultivated is 

 western rye (Agropyrum tenerum). The cultivation of 

 this grass is as yet very limited, hence the amount of 

 seed put upon the market is small. The amount of 

 seed that will yet be grown for many years to come 

 will be an almost inappreciable factor in re-seeding the 

 range. It would be possible for the ranchman to grow 

 his own seed, especially if he could command irrigat- 

 ing waters, but difficulties would attend harvesting the 

 seed under range conditions, except in a wholesale way. 

 Renewal by this method must be very slow for years to 

 come. 



Renewal iy Substitution. — Even greater difficulties 

 attend the renewal of the ranges by substituting other 

 grasses for those now on the range. This has been 

 advocated, not only whete the gi'asses have failed, but 

 where they have not, and with a view of increasing the 

 productive power of the range. First, no variety, the 

 adaptability of which to range conditions has been 

 proved, is as yet cultivated except in a more or less 

 limited way. It will, therefore, be impossible to obtain 



