FOREST SERVICE. 341 



is a national resource vital to large agricultural and industrial inter- 

 ests. The purpose of the grazing studies work is to learn the fun- 

 damental principles affecting the improvement and utilization of the 

 ranges and to introduce better practical methods of use. 



Fundamental range investigations require thorough study for a 

 number of years in specific areas where all of the controlling factors 

 can be closely determined. In recent years the Forest Service has 

 conducted this class of work largely at the Great Basin Experiment 

 Station in Utah and the Jornada and Santa Rita Range Reserves in 

 New Mexico and Arizona. 



Some of the important results of range investigations are : 



(1) Systems of range management, especially deferred and rota- 

 tion grazing, have been developed which maintain the forage re- 

 source and increase its carrying capacity. 



(2) Studies of artificial reseeding have made the improvement of 

 range areas possible where conditions are favorable to this intensive 

 method. 



(3) The determination of the proper seasons for grazing various 

 types of forage has prevented too early grazing, which decreased 

 the stand and caused weakening and losses of livestock. 



(4) The open herding and bedding-out system of handling sheep 

 is now in application on over 65 per cent of the national forest 

 ranges and on many private holdings, with a resultant increase of 

 from 15 to 20 per cent in the carrying capacity of the range. 



(5) Practical methods have been determined for eradicating tall 

 larkspur, water hemlock, death camas, and other poisonous plants. 

 The eradication of tall larkspur on a number of selected areas by the 

 Forest Service in cooperation with stockmen, at a total expenditure 

 of less than $38,000, has resulted in a saving of over $65,000 in the 

 annual loss of cattle. 



(6) The most practical and efficient ways of developing water 

 under the varying conditions of the Southwest, where adequate water 

 on ranges is so important, have been carefully worked out. 



(7) A practical system of cattle management for the semidesert 

 ranges of the Southwest has been developed which permits satis- 

 factory production and helps prevent excessive losses during drought 

 periods. 



In the 11 far Western States there are approximately 110,000,000 

 acres of grazing land within the national forests, nearly 175,000,000 

 acres of unappropriated and unreserved public domain suitable for 

 grazing purposes, and over 350,000,000 acres of private and State 

 lands and other Federal reservations which are capable of being 

 grazed. Approximately 32 per cent of the sheep and 18 per cent of 

 the cattle, exclusive of lambs and calves, in the 11 western range 

 States are grazed upon national forest ranges during a part of the 

 year. These ranges have since 1907 increased in productivity about 

 25 per cent, while the major part of the unreserved public ranges 

 have been deteriorating until now they probably have not over half 

 their original productivity. The increase in productiveness of the 

 forest ranges has been due' primarily to the fact that the range inves- 

 tigations have afforded a scientific basis for the management and 

 utilization of the grazing resources and represents an increase of over 

 $400,000 per annum in grazing receipts. 



