INCREASED CATTLE PRODUCTION. 5 
Naturally, therefore, when stock were free to choose between the 
two classes of range at all times of the year, the grama grass was 
overgrazed. Further, the grama-grass forage usually was consumed 
before January, when, if possible, it should have been saved for the 
period of range shortage from January to the beginning of the summer 
rains, usually m July. 
Mainly to provide for improving the overgrazed grama grass by 
giving it an opportunity to grow and reseed itself, but in part to 
reserve a supply of forage for the stock during the critical spring 
months, the grama-grass range was fenced off from the summer range 
and feided into pastures. : 
An area of 34,545 acres, designated on the classification map as Pag: 
ture 2, was fenced in the fall of 1912. This area has been used mainly 
for Pons steers and poor cows taken from the main herd during 
the period from January to July. Each season, during the main 
vegetative growing period of three to four months following the 
summer rains, beginning in 1913, the number of stock has been re- 
duced to a little less than one-half the average carrying capacity of the 
pasture. This reduced number is kept well distributed in relation to 
the four watering places, in order to avoid as far as practicable having 
any portion of the area grazed heavily. In this way the forage plants 
are given a chance to develop and produce seed. During the other 
eight or nine months of the year, mainly after the vegetation has 
matured, the pasture has been stocked to about 80 per cent of its 
estimated maximum carrying capacity. Its full capacity has not 
been utilized, partly as a means of preventing its being overstocked 
while in course of improvement, but mainly with the idea of insuring 
a supply of good feed for poor cows from January to July, or later, 
in case of prolonged drought. 
Adjoining this pasture on the west is a large area of unfenced 
public range, similar in character, but with a larger proportion of the 
pure grama-grass type. If anything, therefore, it might be consid- 
ered as a little better than the pasture area. Prior to the comple- 
tion of the pasture fences in 1912 both areas were grazed throughout 
the year, with a resulting overstocking during the growing season. 
Both areas also had suffered as a result of prolonged drought, which 
killed out a good deal of the grass. They were, therefore, near enough 
- alike in character and condition for purposes of comparison. Ycear- 
long grazing has been continued on the outside range. It is believed, 
however, that the area has not deteriorated appreciably since 1912, 
because the seasons of 1913 and 1914 were more favorable ae the 
average for plant growth. 
Table I compares the amount and character of the vegetation on 
these two areas in 1916, after three years’ light grazing of the pas- 
ture during the growing season. 
