12 
bulletin 87. 
a much larger cattle population than it does now. The cattle 
could be moved from one pasture to another so that one pasture 
could recuperate while the cattle were grazing in the others. 
This plan when tested in Abilene, Texas, increased the value of 
the pasture quite rapidly. The important question in every case 
is the water supply. If only one square mile is available, then 
dig the well in the middle as nearly as possible and fence in four 
pastures and have watering troughs in each of the four pastures 
into which the tract is divided. Such a small holding as this 
would necessarily mean a dairv in connection and cows of the 
dual-purpose class. Those having larger areas under control 
could afford to raise beef cattle exclusively and all could improve 
their stock at their convenience without interference from the 
scrub stock kept by neighbors. The expense of fencing is the 
main argument against the keeping of cattle in pastures in com¬ 
munities where the land is all in the hands of private parties. 
But in a few years the amount which is saved in wages for 
hunting stray cattle and following the round-ups will pay for the 
fence. Also the owners always know where the cattle are and if 
he wants to sell one the buyer does not have to wait a week or so 
until the cattle can be found. Of course as long as there is Gov¬ 
ernment land the pasture idea cannot be used fully, but it can be 
used partially. At present the men who own land often fence 
their own land and save the grass on it for winter range for their 
stock, running their stock on the open range in summer. 
The use of “drift-fences’’ on government land is often quite 
beneficial to all who use the range partially enclosed by them. 
Often combinations of them almost enclose large tracts of pasture 
land. These immensely reduce the labor of controlling the cattle 
and keeping them on their own range. I have seen 3,000 head of 
mixed cattle handled by two riders by the judicious use of “drift- 
fences.” 
Range Improvement. Improvement of the range under 
present conditions may be classed with “iridescent dreams” of the 
cow man. No man is considered a good business man who will 
spend his money, strength and thought in improving something 
which is subject to being taken possession of by another as soon 
as it appears to be desirable property. For this reason the prairie 
dogs are allowed to increase while the cow-boys ruthlessly kill 
every hawk, badger, rattlesnake, and bullsnake that they can, 
thus leaving the real enemies of the range (the prairie dog) to 
increase without hindrance until they make their homes in the 
front yard of the “home ranch.” Occasionally a prairie dog is 
killed for sport, but such cases are comparatively rare. Usually 
the range deteriorates so slowly that its lessened value is not 
noticed until some extremely dry summer or very severe winter. 
