10 RANGE IMPROVEMENT IN ARIZONA. 



depth of footprints in an average mesa region is one-half an inch to 

 4 inches, the deeper ones being in the lower moister regions, which 

 are best suited to the growth of vegetation. It will be readily seen 

 that a herd of cattle do immense injury to the surface of the ground 

 by traveling over it during a season of rain. Regions which have 

 survived close pasturage are very liable to be destroj^ed or greatly 

 injured in this way. During the dry seasons the injury from tram- 

 pling is nearly if not quite as great. Having no turf of leaves and no 

 protection of shallow roots, the surface soil is easily cut and reduced 

 to dust by animals moving over it in search of food and water. 



FORMER CONDITIONS. 



As an accurate knowledge of the conditions which once jirevailed 

 throughout these valleys and foothills was very essential to a proper 

 and intelligent inauguration of range-improvement experiments, it was 

 thought that the best plan would be an effort to restore the condition 

 which once prevailed, for any extended attempts at cultural operations 

 appeared entirely useless. It was thought that the greatest benefit to 

 the range would be derived from rest, accompanied by reseeding with 

 native forage plants. Accurate knowledge of previous conditions was 

 therefore very essential. In order to obtain this information a circu- 

 lar letter, accompanied by a series of questions, was prepared by the 

 writer, who was at that time botanist of the Arizona Experiment Sta- 

 tion, and distributed to a selected list of correspondents. The letter 

 and questions, reproduced below, are self-explanatory and indicate 

 clearly the purposes of the inquiry. The answers returned agree 

 almost perfectl}^ and point to but one conclusion, namely, that the 

 public ranges of the region were at one time comparatively produc- 

 tive and that their present condition has been brought about by 

 overstocking. 



CIRCULAR LETTER AND QUESTIONS. 



My Dear Sir: The Arizona Experiment Station, in cooperation with the United 

 States Department of Agriculture, is undertaking some experiments with a view 

 of ascertaining the best methods of improving the native ranges of Arizona. 

 Already the Department of the Interior, at the request of the Hon. James Wilson, 

 Secretary of Agriculture, has reserved from entry for our use a tract of land 

 in the vicinity of Tucson, and a suitable portion of this has been fenced. We are, 

 therefore, practically ready to begin operations along lines suggested by the best 

 experience of the officers of this station, as well as of the field agents and officers 

 of the Division of Agrostology, United States Department of Agriculture. It is 

 hoped and expected that this work will result in profit to the ranchers and stock- 

 men of the Territory, and what results in profit to them results in profit to every 

 citizen. 



In order to undertake this work intelligently it is necessary to ascertain as 

 accurately as po-^sible the original condition of the range prior to its depletion by 

 overstocking and prior to the excessive dr':^ughts of a few years ago. for it is by 

 restoring the range to its original condition that we may hope to receive benefit 



