38 BULLETIN 211, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
(3) While much of the land is held under one form of tenure or 
another, over 31,000,000 acres, although in continuous use, now lack 
legal control. 
(4) From the best statistics available it is i that the stock- 
raising industry in New Mexico pays taxes on almost one-fourth of 
the total assessed valuation of the property of the State and i is prob- 
ably the most productive industry in the State. 
(5) The present method of controlling the Government lands de- 
pends upon the legal control of the stock water and a custom which 
has the force of an unwritten law. This condition has arisen from lack 
of legislation which takes all the conditions into consideration. No 
type of legislation is here recommended, because it would be out of 
place; but that some type of legal control is not only desirable but 
very necessary for the further des eaamen of the Bee is forcibly 
urged. 
(6) The nature of the forage crops and their distribution are indi- 
cated in this bulletin in general terms, as are some of the undesirable 
plants, and methods of eradicating the latter are suggested. 
(7) The management of the controlled range is contrasted with 
that now possible. It is shown that the present form of control can 
result in nothing but overstocking. Closely cropped range plants 
produce probably not more than one-third as much forage as when 
they are allowed to mature before being grazed. Feed which is good 
only in the summer, either by virtue of its kind or its position, can be 
properly utilized only on a controlled range. The more or less regu- 
lar recurrence of cycles of dry years makes the reservation of feed 
necessary. This is rarely, if ever, possible on an open range. The 
distribution of stock water is to-day poor when considered from the 
standpoint of the demands of the business. Much could be done to 
improve this condition, but the necessary expenditure is not war- 
ranted while the right of control is so uncertain. Much damage has 
been done to the ranges by erosion. I[fforts to correct this condition 
and to stop the consequent losses to the range and industry are not 
warranted so long as a man may not know that he is to profit by his 
effort. Reseeding operations will pay in some places, but the effort 
and expense are not warranted without the guaranty of returns. 
Fencing gives more complete control of stock and reduces the expense © 
of operation in many ways. It allowsa better organization of the busi- 
ness and makes the reduction of losses and increase of output possible. 
It also makes the improvement of the quality of the stock possible by | 
giving control of the breeding operations. It renders the classifica- 
tion and grading of the animals feasible, thereby tending to increase 
salability. Protection from and eradication of diseases and all types 
of quarantine operations are much more easily applied to inclosed 
areas, and some of the more desirable operations are impossible on an 
