Arizona weekly citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Ariz) 1880-1901, 1891-10-03
ovERsTocKING THE RANGE.

range has a tendency TO kill out the
Q better grasses. On the vast ranges OF
Western Kansas and Nebraska, and IL
fact all along the eastern slope OF the
Rocky Mountains, this condition is
0 most apparent. In this region, where
formerly the dense prairie sod was most
ly Of two species Of foe forage grass, VIZ:
"Bouteloua oligostachya, Torrey and
Buchloe dacyloides. Eng, now the plac
es formerly occupied by these two grass
es are being usurped by less valuable
ones or by none at all. These conditions
J one especially true OF regions that for
number of years have been supporting
large herds Of stock. This same con-
dition is true, only to a less marked de-
gree Of many of the ranges OF Arizona.
Here we have no vast sodded areas such
as We find on the western prairles, and
the gradual extinction Of number OF
our best grasses is not so apparent.
However, this condition is recognized by
many s.ockmen. They have comment
ed upon the fact of the gradual disap-
pearance OF certain grasses that but a
few years before were q major part OF
the forage, but now are nearly gone.
AS elsewhere this is only true OF regions
supporting mora stock than the food
supply will justify.
a cultivated grass pasture when over
fed for any length of time will be in
| jured by il. Weeds and other worthless
plants will gradually take the place of
the best grasses. The same Is true, IN
degree, OF the open range for even the
hardest grasses When continually eaten
close to the ground will, as a rule, in a
few years become extinct. l an told |
that in many places where ten years ago |
late fall will find a rich growth of grass,
now it is of inferior quality, Of less
quantity or none at all. 1t is true this |
is not entirely the effect of overfeeding.
This year the exceptionally dry season
has done much to bring it about, where
drought and overstocklng both COM
bine, and the grass that does not burn !
out from the effects Of the hot sun, is
continually eaten close to the ground
by hungry cattle, the range is in poor
condition to produce feed for the follow
ing season. The repetition or this pro-
cess year after year cannot help but de-
crease the supply Of grasses on the
range.
Tie present condition OF stock in many |
parts OF the territory requires no argu-
l1eat 20 prove that the supply OF food is
not adequate to the need OF the cattle
During July and August in many local
tiles the cattle were feeding almost /
entirely upon the foliage OF oak and
other shrubs. In these regions the /
few grasses were either dried out by the
drought Or eaten SO close TO the ground |
that they were Scarcely noticeable 10
one driving over the country.
There is a lint TO which any range |
can be proftably stocked. If We go |
beyond this limit it will not only be a
detriment to the permanency of the
range but will be- detrimental TO the
stock as woiI 1t is out natural that a |
growth of top is necessary to a growth !
OF root, and also TO the life OF the plant |
as we'll. IL the top be continually eaten |
to the ground or even very near it, the |
roots viii gradually become extinct. |
This is especially true OF grasses grow.
irg in isolated punches or scattered !
about here and there with only few |
culms in a place. As 1t is this Class OF |
grasses that largely furnishes the forage |
over our ranges, it ia safe to make the |
assertion that the deterioration of range |
oastursge is 30 a great exten: due TO |
close feeding. In many places the grass
is fed SO close that but few plants |
mature seeds. 1t is only those growing |
among cacti and in other prot ected |
places that produce flowers and ripen |
seeds; hence, rs the old plants disappear
there are fewer young plants to take
their place. There are valleys over
T, which one can ride for several miles
without finding mature grasses sufficient
| for herbarium specimens Wit tout
searching under bushes or IN other
similar places.
Much grass is killed out by trampling
of horses and cattle. This Is most ap
parent in the vicinity OF springs and
other watering places.i
These causes comhined-the direct
effect of oYerstockiDg- in many
localities gradually decreasing the sup
ply of our best range grasses. 1.-THE
result is much grass has been killed and
a less amount OF forage is sustaining a
greater number Of stock than formerly.
| J. w. ToUMEY.
Tucson, Arizona, Sept. l5, 1891.
An evidence Of the truth OF the fore
going is the emaciated condition Of the
cattle on many Of the ranges in south
ern Arizona. There is hardly range.
il the entire country that is not over
stocked aud over-fed. The result IN
one dry season means uination to many
well-to-do stockmen. On favored rarge'
a fourth of the stock will die; on some
J at least half, while others, even more
unfortunate, will Jose nearly all the,
J haye. In the vicinity Of Fort Lowell
many of the cattle are crawling poor and
it is believed that three-fJurths of them
will succumb TO starvation. This is the
result of one dry season, and that too
following one Of unusual fatness. Should
7 another dry season follow the present
one it would practically clean out the
, cattle interests in southern Arizona
3 Several terrible lessons in this direction
= have been taught but the over-stocking
3 of ranges continues. The result. We fear
q | ba diCocfrouo