26 BULLETIN 367, U. S: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
of the first year. Since the first cutting always contains some old 
grass, the actual reduction of forage due to repeated cutting is less 
than the amount indicated, but is certainly quite large. 
Evidence not quite so conclusive is shown by the cuttings made by 
Mr. Proctor on the larger areas, probably less conclusive because it 
has been his habit to cut over some ground each year that had not 
been mowed before. Records for 1911 on the 29.9 acres were not 
obtained, because considerable of the hay was spoiled by rain. The 
average production in 1912 of 21.5 acres (most of which had been 
mowed the two previous seasons) was 688 pounds per acre. In 1913, 
9.8 acres of this same land gave 669 pounds per acre, while 21.9 
acres, part of which had not been cut previously, gave 712 pounds > 
per acre. Early in June, 1914, a fire burned all the old grass in the 
region Proctor usually cuts, so there was no old grass to be had that 
season. The average production on the 26.88 acres that he cut that 
year was 478 pounds per acre, which is about 100 pounds per acre 
lower than the general average. Doubtless this was the result of the. 
fire, which was more than normally effective because growth of the 
grass had already begun when it occurred. The records for the 
three years show a decline in productivity, which is doubtless at- 
tributable to continued cutting. 
The only other factor which might influence these results would 
be the seasonal rainfall. From what has already been said about the 
“ spotted ” character of the rainfall, it follows that our records taken 
only a few miles away do not tell the actual facts with regard to the 
amount of water that fell upon these areas during the different 
growing seasons. But since the total seasonal rainfall on each plat 
was probably closely parallel to the records obtained at MacBeath’s 
and at McCleary’s, it is well to compare these figures for the dif- 
ferent years under consideration. Since it is the seasonal rainfall 
only that affects the amount of forage here considered, it will be im- 
portant to note the records of precipitation for June, July, August, 
and September, in the years 1910-1914, inclusive, as shown in 
Table VI. 
Tarte VI.—Comparison of summer rainfall records at tivo points on the Santa 
Rita Range Reserve, Ariz., 1910 to 1914, inclusive. 
McCleary’s house. | MacBeath’s house. 
Month. | 
1910 | 1911 °} 1912 | 19138 }.1914 | 1910 | 1911 | 1912 | 1913 | 1914 
| 
JUIMO Ss Aske DE Eee ee ee 0:69) Do52 |}! 0256) |) 46s) 55)))) SOF 575) 62045 OND 7a Osa? 3.44 
Jule Noss) 3c Ses ew eee eee 5.10} 8.40] 8.62) 3.58 | 4.99] 4.64] 5.05| 5.89] 5.15 4.09 
AU SUSG eee cae ee eis 4.41} 1.17] 3.49) 3.51] 3.79] 3.94) 2:96) 3.69) §4.59 6.48 
September 3 2es sense er Ola evan MO 6 | 15209) 025935 79 AD s| lee! 4.08 
—————— | Se ee —_——_— is a 
otalos. eek Sees eee 10. 71 | 12.64 | 12.67 | 9.22 | 11.54 | 10.17 | 18.84 | 10.55 | 12. 10 | 18. 09 
