192 



ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



areas where cooperation could be secured and funds were available. 

 The exact acreage infested is not definitely known, but from the num- 

 ber of cattle reported as dying on infested ranges it is evident that a 

 large saving is feasible. With the present great demand for Forest 

 range and high prices for cattle the need for continuing the eradication 

 work can not be overemphasized. 



The following table shows the number of permits issued and number 

 of stock grazed upon the Forest ranges during the fiscal year ended 

 June 30, 1919: 



Grazing permits issued and number of stock grazed. 



There was a reduction of 72 cattle and horse permittees and an 

 increase of 111 sheep and goat permittees, making a net increase 

 for both classes of 39 as compared with the previous year. Fewer 

 cattle, horses, and sheep were grazed, but the number of swine and 

 goats slightly increased. The horses grazed on the National Forests 

 are very largely of a small and inferior type which do not return 

 a profit to the owner; consequently there has been a marked tendency 

 on the part of these owners to dispose of their horses and substitute 

 more valuable kinds of stock. 



It will be observed that the decrease in the number of cattle was 

 insignificant — only 2,327; but that the number of sheep was decreased 

 by over 500,000. During the grazing seasons of 1917 and 1918 the 

 number of cattle on the National Forests was increased over 379,000 

 head and the number of sheep over 611,000 head, as a war emergency 

 measure. Since the closing of the war it has been necessary to 

 reduce the number of stock on many of the ranges to prevent serious 

 damage to the ranges. Investigations showed that forage could be 

 provided for practically the full number of cattle, but that a reduc- 



