6 BULLETIN 1858, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE i 
prior to the beginning of the summer rains. The spring, too, is the — 
inost critical forage season, for but a small quantity of forage is 
produced then from winter snow or early rains, most of it growing | 
during the summer rainy season. If drought prevents a sufficient 
supply of forage, spring arrives with not only a short feed crop — 
but also with failing water. It is then that an adequate number of — 
well-spaced permanent watering places demonstrate their value. 
For sustained forage and livestock production permanent water- 
ing places should be so spaced on the range that the number of ani- _ 
mals using any particular water will not exceed the conservative — 
grazing capacity of the area within practicable walking distance. — 
On the undulating ranges of relatively sparse forage of the Jornada — 
Range Reserve in southern New Mexico, a permanent watering — 
place was found to be justified for each 500 head of cattle (16, p. 11). 
Even with good range management and when forage, soil, and topo-. |. 
graphic conditions are favorable, and where temporary surface — 
tanks supplement permanent water, not less than one permanent — 
watering place for each 500 head is advisable. Where it is econom- | 
ically possible the minimum should be one for each 300 head, or. 
less, even on level range. In very rugged areas of low feed value | 
the number may be one for each 50 head or less. | 
TEMPORARY WATER ON THE RANGE 
Temporary water includes supplies liablé to fail in a dry time, such. 
as shallow or leaky storage basins, weak wells or springs, natural 
water holes in washes, arroyos, pools above highway or railroad — 
grades, and various sorts of natural basins. These may be expected 4 
to furnish water for varying periods during all but the worst drought © 
years in which livestock adjustments are always necessary. These. 
temporary waters benefit the range and the stock by permitting the - 
animals to graze farther back from permanent waters than would. 
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otherwise be possible, thereby resting heavily-grazed portions, espe- | 
cially during the growing season (PI. IT), and obtaining better dis- © 
tribution of livestock and more uniform use of the range. In addi- ¥ 
tion, they often make possible the saving of some good erass near a 
permanent watering place, for use during the lambing period or in| 
emergencies. Temporary water is especially important where cost | 
of permanent water in all parts of the range would be excessive. | 
In making grazing capacity estimates little account should be | 
taken of range usable only from temporary waters, except in cases | 
where stock can be promptly removed to Well-watered areas when 
temporary waters give out, and where such a removal does not result » 
In excessive congestion of animals around the permanent watering © 
places. 
EFFECT OF WATER SPACING ON TWO SIMILAR RANGES 
A comparative study was made of forage utilization as influenced | 
by water on two large cattle ranges in New Mexico during the years 
1919 to 1921, inclusive. The ranges were similar in all essential re-_ 
spects, except for the number, distribution, and permanency of water- 
ing places. They were similarly stocked on the basis of total forage 
produced. Both were watered almost exclusively by surface reser- 
voirs, some of which were dry for a part of each vear. 
