Class III Range Land

Photograph of two UNIDENTIFIED men standing in a class III rangeland. The back of the photograph proclaims, “Class III range land. Blue grama grass is very low state of vigor. Invaders are numerous including muhly grass, fluff grass, three-awn, and perennial broomweed. Erosion, moderate to severe indicating that permanent damage is occurring. Recovery on this type of range will be slow, although much change toward the more desirable species can be expected when the use of range is based upon preserving the grama grasses.”
Date: July 30, 1941
Creator: Davis, D. O.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Grass, Legume and Forb Cultivation

Photograph of class IV Land Clearance, Cultivation & Brush and Weed Control. Blue grama practically all gone. Most of the sparse vegetation is annual, principally 6-week grama, false buffalo and goat hand, although still remains traces of blue grama, tobosa and burro grass with a scattering of Sphaeralcea angustifolia. Severe erosion. Maria Silty Clay Loam. TX-40, 445.
Date: July 30, 1941
Creator: Davis, D. O.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Class I Range

Photograph of a hand of an UNIDENTIFED person showing off a Class I Range Land producing excellent forage. The back of the photograph proclaims, “Class I Range Land producing maximum forage. Range has been under continuous use and can increase in grazing without damage to range. Range is pure stand of blue grama grass this is in a vigorous condition producing large amount of forage. Only traces of undesirable species such as muhly grass, three-awn, and fluff grass. No erosion."
Date: July 30, 1941
Creator: Davis, David O.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Class IV Range Land

Photograph of a hand of an UNIDENTIFED person showing off a Class IV Range Land. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Class IV Range Land. Blue grama technically all gone. Most of space vegetation is […], principally 6-week grama, false buffalo and […], although still remains traces of blue grama […] and burro grass with scattering of Sphaeralcea angustifolia. Severe erosion. Marfa Silty Clay Loam."
Date: July 30, 1941
Creator: Davis, David O.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Close-up View of Class II Range Land

Photograph of a close-up view of Class II rangeland. The back of the photograph proclaims, “This picture shows Class II Range Land. Close-up view. Grass on this range is not as thick as that on the Class I range, indicating low vigor. A few undesirable species are coming in principally muhly grass, three-awn and perennial broomweed. Rapid recovery will be expected under safe use for permanent damage has not occurred. Slight sheet erosion. (Range is principally blue grama.)"
Date: July 30, 1941
Creator: Davis, David O.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

W. B. Mitchells Sons Ranch Class III Range Land

Photograph of a close-up view of class III rangeland on W. B. Mitchells Sons Ranch. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Class III Range Land. Blue grama grass in very low state of vigor. Invaders are numerous including muhly grass, fluff grass, three-awn, and perennial broomweed. Erosion, moderate to severe indicating that permanent damage is occurring. Recovery on this type of range will be slow, although much change toward the more desirable species can be expected when the use of range is based upon preserving the grama grasses."
Date: July 30, 1941
Creator: Davis, David O.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Livestock

Photograph of range cattle at watering trough. Typical [illegible] farm, heavily overgrazed. TX-42-243.
Date: September 26, 1945
Creator: Jenkins, Elvin W.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Livestock

Photograph of cattle on pasture land.
Date: September 26, 1945
Creator: Jenkins, Elvin W.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Water Conservation; Water Erosion; Flooding and Prevention

Photograph of apparent flooding around Marfa, Texas {Photo text to faded and broken up for legibility].
Date: September 27, 1945
Creator: Jenkins, Elvin W.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Water Spreading System for Blue Grama Grass Range

Photograph of a water spreading system, constructed from earth levees, to spread creek water evenly over a blue grama grass range to promote growth of grass and prevent erosion. A few heads of cattle are grazing in this field. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Water spreading system. System of earth levees for spreading creek water over blue grama grass range. These levees distribute water evenly over range and promote growth of grass. They also serve to reduce velocity of water and help prevent sheet and gully erosion."
Date: April 17, 1940
Creator: Jenkins, Elvin W.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Grass, Legume and Forb Cultivation

Photograph of poison weed plots on the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. Members of the Texas Section, American Society of Range Management view the enclosures while on a field tour. Livestock were excluded from the area since October, 1951. Various locoweed control treatments have been tried. One outstanding result of the enclosures is in the recovery of cane bluestem grass. The area receives a little extra water from the adjacent highlands. Outside the plot the few cane bluestem plants found were closely grazed. Blue grama and buffalo grass predominated. Inside the enclosure, bluestem predominated in spots, with a great increase in vigor and the number of plants. TX-48-350.
Date: December 8, 1952
Creator: Rechenthin, C. A.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Grass, Legume and Forb Cultivation

Photograph of a fence line contrast. The pasture on the left has been heavily grazed with sheep. No rains have occurred in 1953. The result is that the range is almost bare. The pasture on the right has not been used as heavily and some clover still remains.
Date: July 23, 1953
Creator: Rechenthin, C. A.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Lee Plumley

Photograph of Lee Plumley examining blue grama.
Date: August 27, 1948
Creator: Rechenthin, C. A.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Livestock

Photograph of Hereford cattle on irrigated pasture of smooth bromegrass, perennial ryegrass, created wheatgrass, alfalfa and Ladino clover. This pasture produces a high yield of forage through the spring and summer months. TX-46, 029.
Date: August 29, 1949
Creator: Rechenthin, C. A.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Contour Furrows in Sacaton, Tobosa Flat

Photograph of "Contour furrows (blocked) in sacaton, tobosa flat. Soil type: Toyah. Slope: 0-2%."
Date: April 11, 1941
Creator: Tidwell, C. A.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History