318 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



program of planting is grossly inadequate is evident, and the grow- 

 ing realization of the future shortage of timber supplies emphasizes 

 the need for a more comprehensive planting program. As a first 

 step in this direction the Forest Service is this year making a survey 

 of the national forests with a yiew to submitting a plan for the 

 reforestation of denuded areas within a reasonable period of time. 

 Its execution, however, must await provision by Congress of increased 

 funds. 



RANGE, 



GENERAL CONDITIONS. 



Broadly speaking, the grazing season of 1922 was about normal. 

 On more than 40 per cent of the national forests the rainfall was 

 below average, but it came at a time to do the most good, and the 

 feed, although not particularly heavy, produced fat cattle and sheep. 

 The winter of 1922-23 was comparatively mild, with hay plentiful, 

 and the spring of 1923 opened up sufficiently early to have green feed 

 available at the usual time. The winter losses were therefore light, 

 although as a rule both cattle and sheep were rather thin at the time 

 of entering the national-forest ranges. 



In the Southwest, however, especially in New Mexico and Arizona, 

 the drought which has now lasted for practically three years was 

 broken only in part, the precipitation being extremely spotted and 

 the growth of vegetation light. This was especially true in southern 

 New Mexico and Arizona, and sheepmen whose stock lambed early in 

 1923 suffered heavy losses, due to lack of green feed for the young 

 stock. While beef cattle on nearly all ranges were in excellent con- 

 dition in the fall of 1922, the average weights were at least 100 

 pounds below normal. To a large extent lambs placed on the market 

 were also underweight. 



Losses from all causes during the year were somewhat less than 

 average. The work of the Biological Survey in eliminating preda- 

 tory animals has undoubtedly caused a decrease in losses from that 

 source, and the absence of heavy rainfall prevented a rank growth of 

 poisonous plants, especially larkspur, which cut down the losses from 

 this cause materially. 



USE OF THE RANGE. 



The table below shows the number of stoclj: grazed under permit and 

 the number of permits issued for the calendar year 1922'. The business 

 was somewhat less than in previous years, primarily because of stock 

 sales to reduce indebtedness, plus the inability of many stockmen to 

 meet the grazing charges, which forced them to hold their stock on 

 their own lands. However, the vacant ranges will not lie idle long, 

 as other stockmen will apply for the next season. 



