10 



tity of grass sods transplanted into prepared ground; has put up 

 a small seed-house, and made everything in readiness for more exten- 

 sive work next spring. The results of these experiments will be 

 watched with great interest ; but definite results can not be expected 

 without the allowance of a considerable period of time. 



The need of some grasses suitable to the climate of the dry region 

 lying mainly west of the 100th meridian has been long felt and ac- 

 knowledged. It is estimated that there are in eastern Colorado, west- 

 ern Kansas, western Nebraska, and southern TTyomiug 120,000 square 

 miles, or over 7G, 000, 000 acres, of this arid, elevated country. This 

 region was known to be covered principally by short grasses called 

 " buffalo" and " mesquit," in some places thickly covered, in others 

 more and more sparsely, while in some portions the amount of grass 

 was exceedingly small. During the greater part of the last twenty- 

 five years this region has been occupied for cattle and sheep ranches, 

 for which purpose alone it was thought to be adapted. But even for 

 this purpose its ability to support the domestic grazing animals was 

 very small compared with its vast extent. This arises partly from the 

 fact that only such portions as were within reasonable distance from 

 water could be utilized, and partly from the scanty supply of grass. 

 The estimates as to the supporting capacity of these plains vary much 

 according to localities, some statements being that 40 to 50 acres are re- 

 quired to support one animal, others that 20 or 30 acres are sufficient, 

 and yet others that 10 to 15 acres are enough. 



All these estimates are correct as to certain localities, and it may be 

 considered probable that over the entire region the average amount re- 

 quired would be 15 acres to the head of stock. This, however, was 

 under the wasteful ranch system. A limitation of the range and the 

 size of the herds, so that they could be properly cared for as to water, 

 shelter, and winter food, would greatly increase the grazing capacity of 

 the country. 



Bat during the past five or six years there has been such an over- 

 whelming influx of settlers into that district that the ranchmen have 

 been nearly all forced to abandon the country in favor of homesteaders, 

 who are seeking to make farms of their quarter and half-sections. A 

 series of favorable seasons .had occurred, during which the few scat- 

 tered settlers in the country had been successful in their agricultural 

 efforts, and then began a rush of immigration which soon absorbed a 

 great portion of the most desirable locations. The settlers were full of 

 the most sanguine expectations, and an army of boomers invaded the 

 country, located town sites and city sites, and a general inflation of 

 values occurred. A few well located towns will perhaps retain their 

 marvelous development, but many others have come to a stand-still, 

 and many will retrograde, for the reason that numerous thriving towns 

 can not exist in an agricultural country without the improvement and 

 successful cultivation of the surrouuding land, and to this end the resi- 

 dents of that region must now direct their efforts. 



