48 STOCK RANGES OF NORTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA. 



This evil can be remedied to a great extent by one or other of two meth- 

 ods: (1) A system of long-term leases, under which it is to the tenant's 

 interest not to materially reduce the carrying capacity, at least during 

 the term of his occupation; and (2) a clause in the lease limiting the 

 number of head to be carried on the range. In the latter case it will 

 obviously be necessary to exercise great care not to sign for more 

 than the optimum. 



The second point to be considered is one which affects both the 

 owner and the holder of a long-term lease. It is whether it is ever 

 wise, from the point of view of personal economy, to stock beyond the 

 optimum carrying capacit}^. In view of the fact already pointed out, 

 that when once commenced the deterioration of an annual range pro- 

 ceeds with great rapidity, it would be poor policy to continue to carry 

 1 head to 5 acres, or 360 head on a 1,800-acre range, with the certainty 

 of its reduction to perhaps 150 head in fifteen years' time, if by reduc- 

 ing the herd at the start to 1 head to 8 acres, or a total of 225 head, the 

 same total profits could be obtained in a total period of twenty years 

 and the size of the herd and the range capacity be undiminished at 

 the end of that time. 



RANGE IMPROVEMENT. 



By range improvement we mean not only its restoration to its 

 former carrying capacity, but also an improvement of the character 

 of the range and of the quality of the feed. This is effected by the 

 introduction of other kinds or races of forage plants. 



In order to understand fully the problem of range improvement, 

 thereby guarding against wasted effort in directions which offer little 

 chance for success, it is necessary to appreciate the conditions which 

 determine the character of the forage plants on a particular range. 



What causes the difference between the annual and the perennial 

 ranges of northwestern California? The perennial ranges (if we 

 exclude alpine meadows) are found only along the coast bluffs, where 

 the climate is relatively cool and moist in summer, owing to proximity 

 to the ocean and the prevalence of summer fogs. It must not be sup- 

 posed from this that these maritime perennial ranges keep green 

 throughout the summer. They do, however, keep green some weeks 

 later than the interior ranges, which feature, together with the fact 

 that they do not deteriorate as rapidly as the annual ranges, makes 

 them more valuable than the latter. 



The annual ranges, on the other hand, are found in the interior, 

 be3 T ond the reach of the sea fogs. The open ridges are exposed to 

 the full force of the scorching north winds and great sun heat dur- 

 ing a period of sometimes eight to ten or even more weeks of absolute 

 freedom from rain. 



It is evident that the essential characteristics of good forage grasses 

 best adapted to the dry, interior ranges are: (1) Adaptability to the 

 peculiar climatic conditions; (2) tenacious hold on the soil, i. e., 



