DRY-FARMING CONGRESS, WICHITA, 1914 



81 



and a year later into three parts by a second fence in order to control the 

 stock and adopt the system of deferred and rotation grazing. 



At the close of the present season the steers and dry cows w»ere in fair 

 beef condition and the range has improved sufficiently to justify an in- 

 crease of 25 head, 14 per cent in the number of stock allowed. 



There has been some question as to whether the forage on areas where 

 grazing is deferred until after seed maturity can be used to advantage. 

 On National Forest ranges heavy frosts usually come at about the time 

 of seed maturity and as a consequence the succulent forage consists of 

 only a limited fall growth of green grass. 



Stockmen are learning that it is an advantage to have an area of 

 mature, untouched forage for this period. The stock may not hold their 

 plump, round condition as well as where they have more succulent feed, but 

 they harden on the air-dry forage and the grain in the native grasses, 

 and as a consequence are in the best condition to stand the drive from sum- 

 mer to winter range or the shipment to market. 



While the results cited have been secured under National Forest condi- 

 tions which are somewhat different, as a whole, than those on range and 

 pasture lands elsewhere, the principle involved is fundamental, based pri- 

 marily on the requirements of the forage plants in their growth and re- 

 production. 



Further, it works to best advantage on ranges where the forage is 

 made up largely of perennial grasses, as this class of forage is longer in 

 reaching maturity, and is more subject to being cropped before seed matur- 

 ity than the more rapid growing weed species. 



In addition, the perennial grasses are more palatable and nutritious 

 after maturity than other range plants, thus making it possible to defer 

 grazing on grass lands until after seed maturity, with a minimum loss of 

 forage and meat production. 



In view of these facts there seems no reason why the system of de- 

 ferred and rotation grazing should not bring even better results in the 

 management of pasture lands within the short grass and bluestem terri- 

 tory than on the grazing lands within the National Forests. 



The owners of these lands have a great advantage over National 

 Forest range management in that they have exclusive use and can construct 

 the necessary fences for the control of the stock at much less expense 

 than is possible on the remote, rugged grazing lands of the forests. 



These lands have the additional advantage of a long season free from 

 killing frosts and should produce a good seed crop of high germination, 

 so essential to revegetation. 



Numerous tests of seed from the lower ranges of the forests show a 

 germination of as high as 95 percent, while seed from the high ranges 

 rarely germinates more than 35 percent. 



The main drawback of the short grass region is, perhaps, a lack of 

 sufficient, well-distributed watering places, but in the end considerable ex- 

 penditure for water development is a matter of economy if tffe proper 

 maintenance of the pastures depends upon it. 



