452 GRASSES AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



ticable in the absence of these. Cattle sold at three 

 years, in the absence of such supplies, may be sold at 

 two }-ears, when they are present. A whole year of 

 what is usually termed the food of niaintenance may 

 thus be saved, in the rearing of each cattle beast, grown 

 on the ranges. This arises from continuity in growth, 

 made possible in winter, as well as in summer. Young 

 cattle, grazing on the open range, will do little more 

 than maintain themselves during the winter months ; 

 when fed upon alfalfa, they make substantial gains. It 

 will be possible, therefore, to save, in the aggregate, 

 the food of maintenance for one year of every cattle 

 beast, grown on the range. In other words, it will 

 make it possible to use such quantities of food, in the 

 aggregate, at one time used as food of maintenance, in 

 growing meat, thus making the ranges just that much 

 more productive. 



Fattening Stock on tlie Ranges. — Formerly stock 

 could not be fattened on the ranges in the very best 

 form, since grass was the only food grown. J^Tow in 

 addition to the fodder, grown under irrigation in the 

 valleys much grain is also being grown. This makes 

 it possible to finish live stock in the range country, 

 before shipment and the proportion that will be thus 

 finished will increase with the increase of such pro- 

 duction thus adding to the profits of the ranchman. 

 But it is not probable that the time will ever come, 

 when all the stock, grown on the range, will or can 

 be finished there. The disproportion between the un- 

 irrigable and irrigable lands is too -great to admit of 

 such a result, hence it will always be possible for the 



