RANGE DETERIORATION. 39 



without reference to the range or to future production. The opti- 

 mum carrying capacity, on the other hand, means the highest num- 

 ber that can possibly be carried without injury to the range, providing 

 for the production of future crops, and eventually, therefore, bringing 

 the best results both to range owner and occupier. 



On ranges which are not stocked beyond the optimum the animals 

 are not likely to depasture any one spot, and a sufficient number of 

 plants of alfilerilla, native clovers, danthonia, and other bunch grasses 

 will thus be left to ripen seed for another season's growth. Having 

 more space over which to roam, the stock will spend less time in one 

 place, doing less injury to the bunch grasses by their trampling. The 

 number of stock which make the difference between the maximum 

 and optimum carrying capacity costs more to the range owner in per- 

 manent and irreparable damage to his property than the}^ can bring 

 back in cash value. While every head of stock put upon the range, 

 until the optimum is reached, is equivalent to so much additional 

 profit, every head carried beyond the optimum not only ceases to be a 

 source of profit, in that it limits the supply of nutritious plants both 

 for itself and the rest of the herd, but also causes deterioration to 

 the range. The amount of deterioration can not be measured by the 

 actual amount of feed eaten, but increases with geometrical progres- 

 sion to an astonishing degree, determined by the number of useful 

 plants left to ripen seed for the next year's crop. Looked at from 

 this standpoint, it is evident that when an annual range begins to 

 deteriorate the deterioration will continue at a rapid rate until checked 

 by a change of method in management. 



Stockmen all admit that overstocking is a bad practice, and con- 

 demn it; but each man has his own conception of what overstocking 

 is, the number of acres required per head ranging all the way from 

 3 to 20 acres, varying somewhat, to be sure, according to the condition 

 and situation of the range. Doubtless the point where the over- 

 stocking commences is determined, with most stockmen, by the con- 

 dition of the stock, without regard to that of the range; few would 

 realize that by running all the stock the range will carry they are 

 actually overstocking — that is to say, seriously depleting the range and 

 reducing the number of head which can be carried in future years. 



Unlike arable land, which is cultivated and resown artificially year 

 after year and on which the crops can therefore be cropped close 

 without injury, a stock range has to seed itself naturally, and on 

 account of the high mortality percentage among seeds under ordinary 

 conditions it must be allowed to seed itself heavily or else it will 

 deteriorate. 



Excessive land valuations. — In discussing values the distinction 

 between an annual and perennial range must be borne in mind. The 

 annual range is much more subject to change than the perennial 

 range; therefore the difference between maximum and optimum 



