34 RANGE IMPROVEMENT IN CENTRAL TEXAS. 
SUMMARY. 
CATTLE HELD ON STATION PASTURES. 
It will be borne in mind that in March, 1898, the capacity of the 640 
acres included in the Merchant lease was estimated by exverts as being 
for mixed cattle at the rate of 1 head to every 16 acres—about 40 head 
altogether. During the third year of station work from 80 to 85 head 
of mixed cattle were held in the pastures, in the proportion of about 
1 head to every 74 acres. At times the proportion was even greater, 
as it frequently happened that in addition to the cattle several head of 
horses and mules were allowed the run of the pastures. At no time, 
however, were the stock permitted to graze all of the pastures at the 
same time. The effort was made to give each pasture periods of rest 
in regular succession. That meant the doubling up of the stock in the 
pastures in which they were being held; hence it happened that during 
considerable periods of time the different pastures were carrying quite 
double as many animals as the average recommended by the inspectors. 
As one result of this systematic resting, the grasses in each pasture 
were, to a greater or less extent, permitted to mature seeds, which, 
falling to the ground, increased the number of grass roots and in that 
way added materially to the capacity of the range for supporting stock. 
If Mr. Middleton and others of the stockmen who entered the country 
first with their cattle are correct, namely, that originally all of that 
section had a capacity to sustain stock equal to 1 head to every 3 or 4 
acres, it is evident that the station pastures have not yet been brought 
back to their original capacity. What has been accomplished, how- 
ever, justifies the belief that if like methods on the general line of 
those pursued during three years to April, 1901, be followed during 
the succeeding three years, as a result of the six years’ work the gain 
will aggregate several hundred per cent. Results quite as satisfactory 
are certainly practicable as to every pasture in central Texas. Where 
but 40 head of cattle are now being held it is possible to continue to 
hold as many on the pastures during a first year’s work and at the 
same time much improve them. During the second year the work of 
range improvement may be continued, and the number of cattle on 
the pastures may be increased. During the third year the number 
ean be still further increased and the work of improving the pastures 
still continued. The work may be continued year after year, the 
work each year being proportionately greater than that of the year 
before; and each year the proportion of cattle may be increased. An 
interested stockman of Taylor County submitted the inquiry: ** Do 
you Government station men believe that the overstocked and almost 
ruined grass sections of this country may be brought back to their 
capacity for supporting cows as back in the sixties and seventies?” 
