342 ANNUAL KEPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The open-herding and bedding-out system, together with other 

 phases of better sheep management, has increased the weiglit of 

 lambs coming from national forest ranges about 5 pounds each, 

 which at a very conservative estimate means 10,000,000 pounds more 

 on lambs each year. At a valuation of 7 cents per pound this 

 amounts to approximately $700,000 each year clear gain to the lamb 

 producers. An increase of from three to four million pounds of wool 

 has resulted from these improved methods. The application of im- 

 proved methods in handling cattle on national forest ranges has in- 

 creased the number and weight of cattle grazing thereon and the num- 

 ber of calves produced, and has decreased the losses to such an ex- 

 tent that compared with 1907, when the range investigations were 

 started, the increased production of beef from national forest ranges 

 has been conservatively estimated at 40,000,000 pounds. The exten- 

 sion of improved management should increase these figures ma- 

 terially. 



These results on the national forests stand out in contrast to those 

 being obtained on the open public domain, where lack of regulation 

 prevents the application of satisfactory management. Regulation 

 of the unreserved public domain would make possible a better con- 

 trol of the spring, fall, and winter ranges and would remove one of 

 the greatest handicaps to stability in the livestock industry. 



The range investigations have been made with an annual expendi- 

 ture never exceeding $35,000. It has been impossible to study all the 

 problems of range management in the West. Vegetative conditions 

 are so different and the controlling factors of climate, growth, and 

 range management so varied that adequately to cover the situation 

 and needs will require additional investigations of the problems 

 peculiar to ranges at different elevations and .to individual regions. 

 This work deserves extension at the earliest date possible. 



GRAZING EECONNAISSANCE. 



Grazing reconnaissance is being extended as rapidly as funds will 

 allow. During the year a total of 1,970,000 acres on the Beaverhead, 

 Deerlodge. Helena, Montezuma, Santa Fe, Fillmore, Caribou, Mini- 

 doka, Modoc, and Shasta National Forests were covered by grazing 

 specialists and management plans developed. This makes a total of 

 over 20,000.000 acres of national forest lands on which ranfje recon- 

 naissance has been conducted. The value of this work lies in the 

 more specific knowledge obtained of the grazing resources. 



EXTENDING TECHNICAL GRAZING KNOWLEDGE. 



Special efforts have been put forth in recent years to train a 

 corps of grazing specialists within the national forest organization 

 and to instill a better understanding of range management in all 

 forest officers and grazing permittees. Every new technical grazing 

 man is given a course of practical training under the guidance of 

 experienced men already in the organization. Considering the im- 

 portance of the livestock industry dependent upon the national for- 

 ests and its value to the West, there is serious need of enlarging the 

 technical grazing personnel of the service. 



