96 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



one-fourth, and in 1910 somethinp; over one-half. Tliis reduction 

 was partl}'^ the result of the general business depression. The lumber 

 cut of the entire country in 1908 and 1909 was considerably less than 

 in 1907; and, since National Forest timber is on what may be called 

 the fringe of the demand for stumpage, it naturally felt the effect 

 of business disturbance to a much greater degree than did timber 

 in more settled regions. But the reduction in sales was largely the 

 consequence of a perception that, on grounds of broad public economy, 

 the timber-sale policy of 1907 required modification. 



Following the fires of last summer an abnormal period may be 

 anticipated. As a result of those fires a great quantity of fire- 

 killed timber is in the Forests. This timber must be utilized 

 speedily if it is not to be a complete loss. It is the part of economy 

 to have it lumbered, even though it has to be sold at a very low 

 price, in order that the resulting product may take the place of what 

 would ordinaril}" be sawed from green timber. In the regions where 

 fire-killed timber is plentiful the cutting of any other material will so 

 far as possible be suspended. Every effort will be made to find 

 purchasers, large as well as small, and stumpage will be offered on 

 very liberal terms. It is hoped that in this way the general and local 

 markets may be led to absorb a large part of the manufactured product 

 of the fire-killed timber in place of the supplies which would ordinarily 

 be drawn from undamaged private and public holdings. 



RANGE MANAGEMENT. 



The total of live stock of all kinds which used the National Forest 

 range in 1910 under pay permits fell off 2.75 per cent in comparison 

 with the previous year. This is the first year since regulated grazing 

 began that there has not been an increase. The cause of the drop is 

 to be found in the reduction of available range through eliminations of 

 land found to be better suited to other uses than to forest purposes. 

 Since the lands excluded by these eliminations were relatively low- 

 lying, open, and accessible, they were above the average in the amount 

 of grazing use made of them. 



Decided progress was made during the year toward working out 

 methods of more intensive range use, and some of the methods which 

 have been experimentally tested were taken up and applied by stock- 

 men on their own lioldings with good results. 



Mention should be made also of the need of permanent improve- 

 ments in the form of drift fences, watering places, and other acces- 

 sories to the handling of stock, as a means of securing the fullest 

 utilization of the forage crop of the Forests. To a considerable 

 extent it has been found possible to secure such improvements through 

 cooperation of the stockmen. The development of the range to its 

 fullest usefulness requires, however, the investment of public money 



