80 BULLETIN 211, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
Thus in a number of ways the ability to subdivide the range into 
pastures makes a much more effective utilization of the forage crops 
possible and so increases the carrying capacity. 
The wmportance of reserve feed.—Attention has been called to the 
variability of the climate of the region. It is as safe to prophesy lean 
years in New Mexico as it was in Egypt in Joseph’s time, and they 
usually come in cycles of two or more seasons in which the precipi- 
tation is below the average. Only two ways of adjusting the stock 
business to these years of scanty growth are possible. One must 
either reduce the number of stock or be able to fall back on a reserve 
supply of feed. The forced sale of the stock nearly always means 
financial loss, largely because of the condition of the stock. They 
have been held in expectation that the rain will occur at what is 
generally referred to as the usual time. The stock at this time have 
just passed the season of poor feed and are not in first-class condition 
for sale, and the longer the rain is delayed the poorer and less valu- 
able they become. If the owner sells at this time, he is bound to lose 
heavily. Yet, if the rain does come even late in the summer, growth 
is so rapid that there will be feed enough to carry over to what may 
be a better year. So he hopes and holds on. But if rain does not 
come at all, the weak stock and many of the young will die. Thus 
a large percentage of the breeding stock is lost and the next year’s 
crop much reduced. On much of the New Mexico range country two 
or three such seasons in succession will put many of the stockmen 
out of business and kill thousands of animals. Yet these cycles of 
dry seasons come, and everyone knows they will come again, but no 
one can get ready for them, because he can not fence his range. 
Developing water.—Attention has already been called to the fact 
that the control of the range is now maintained by the control of the 
stock water. Of course, it must be understood that wherever there 
is sufficient water for irrigation purposes it is always so used. In 
New Mexico there is almost everywhere sufficient stock water to 
supply all the animals which the range will carry, and in many places 
quite a little more could be developed. This is one of the factors 
which have made overstocking not only possible but unavoidable 
under the present system of tenure. 
Wherever there is underground water within 500 feet of the sur- 
face, the earth tank and cased well, with its big windmill and gasoline 
engine, furnish asupply that can be depended upon. (PI. VII, fig. 2.) 
Such equipment is, however, the sign of the investment of considerable _ 
money; the deeper the well, the larger the expense, and likewise the 
greater the cost of use and maintenance. 
Springs and small streams are always used, unless the supply is 
large enough for irrigation purposes. Just in the edge of the foothills, 
where the flood-water channels open out upon the flats, sites may 
