Arizona weekly citizen., 1890-08-23
ARIZONA.
Stsok Raising in Pima County.-Nat-
 ura1 Forage Brouss.

Western World.
 The facilities afforded by nature for growing of horses, cattle and sheep in Pima county are equal, if not superior, to those of any other portion of the United States. Its mild and delightful climate, it's extensive ranges, and the variety of feed which they contain con- tribute to this.
 Experience shows that cattle thrive under the tropical heat of the summers, while the mildness of the winter climate is exceedingly we'll adapted to the growth and development of stock. The entire absence of the blizzards and snow storms makes the ranges peculiarly valuable. It is not necessary to store feed for win- ter use, thus avoiding the expense of cutting, hauling and storing the snor- nous quantities of hay necessary for the maintenance of large herds.
 In order that cattle may thrive, it is necessary that they may have large tracts of unoccupled land upon which to graze. The raising of large herds in lim- ited enclosures has been found not only expensive, but practically impossible. Pima county being as yet sparssly popu- lated, furnishes ranchmen wide and sx- tensive ranges for their stock. With mountains and rolling hills on the one hand, and forests and grassy plains on the other, the advantages for breeding are superior.
 Our ranges afford great variety of feed for stock, but they may be classed into the general heads, grasses, browse and cacti.
 There are @ great many species of grasses. They may be subdivided into two clssses-seed and root grasses. Seed grasses are those which come from the seed after the rainy seasons. There IS a great variety of these. While they are still green and tender they make sx- cellent feed for stock, and when they come into maturity their seed is exceed ingly fattening. Under this subhsad, too, must be considered the countless varieties of weeds which are produced by the winter rains, and which make very fine feed, especially when they come into seed. Root grass in addition to growing from the seed, also sprouts from the roots and lives throughout the year. They are most desirable species and are very valuable for stock purposes.
 The value of browse as feed for stock cannot be overestimated. In fact, with out it, stock, and especially cattle, do not seem to do we'll. The trees which furnish this browse are the mesquite" "pslo verde" "tesota," and "binorama" which grow on the bottoms and rolling mesas, and many scrub plants of the foothills and mountain sides. Each one of these produce first blossom and then either berry or beam, both of which are greatly relished by stock. The flow CT and bean of the mesquite" "palo verde" and "tesota" are particularly nsurishing and fsttsning, and when | they are in season stock prefer them to l all other kinds of food.
 Cacti are 8 Growth peculiar to tropi- cal climates. They are very abundant | in Pima county, and include a great 1 of species. For stock purposes however, the principal kinds are the !! 'Tima" and the "Cholla." Both of these | are very thorny species, and to one who | has not seen it, it seems impossible that | with flesh and feeling could | eat it. However, when the sprigs are | young and tender, cattle will travel | miles to get them.
 The great variety of feed and the fact that these are constantly succeeding each other, throughout the year, in thslr seasons of maturity, are the chief and peculiar advantages which ranges in Pima county offer for the raising of stock.
 Although Southern Arizona possesses 90 many advantages over other countries and it's ranges are SO we'll adapted to the raising of stock, it cannot be said that | it Is without inconviences as fattsning Running water is rather a scarce article in our ranges, our rainy reasons are ct times uncertain, often stock have to travel long distances from water to feed, and in summer when they gre obliged to drink several times dur ng the day and the heat is very oppres- tive, it is impossible that they should yain flesh.
 Twice during the year our cattle get Tery fat, and make excellent beef; in the all, after the summer rains and in the bring after the winter rains. Our mar Ists for beef, however, are limited, and n truth we cannot hope to dispose of he enormous quantities of cattle which ye raise as such.