398 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



the cost of construction and maintenance, and would largely obviate 

 the losses often sustained through inability to secure the necessary 

 labor at lambing time. The ureas upon wnich sheep may be success- 

 fully lambed are limited and in great demand. Under existing 

 methods lambing on the range is unusually injurious to the areas 

 used, losses are large, and the operation is expensive; conse(|uently, 

 the determination of a method by which sheep may be lambed upon 

 small areas with a maximum percentage of increase, a minimum cost, 

 and a minimum of damage to the Forest lands, will be of large 

 hnportance. 



The coyote-proof pasture experiment, which for four years past 

 has been conducted upon the Wallowa National Forest, was contin- 

 ued during the year. The sheep were handled by a regular herder 

 without assistance by the Forest Service, and the results show the 

 same reductions in expense, in amount of range required, and in 

 percentage of natural loss, and the same increase in weight of the 

 lambs, as was secured in preceding years. 



The experin:ents in reseeding the ranges with introduced grasses 

 were widened. Over 300 experimental sowings were made in the 

 calendar year 1910. The drought which prevailed throughout the 

 Western States militated against successful results. The season of 

 1911 will afford a better test of what can be done. 



In connection with the study of the mountain bunch grass range 

 types, preparations were made for the application of the rotation or 

 deferred grazing system upon 10 overgrazed sheep allotments, 

 investigations having demonstrated conclusively that by proper 

 rotation in the use of grazing lands it is possible to secure a thorough 

 natural reseeding of certain classes of land at intervals without any 

 serious decrease in the amount of forage available for use. Experi- 

 ments to discover waj^s by which a natural reseeding of native plants 

 upon other depleted ranges could be secured were initiated upon 

 several Forests by the local officers. Upon the Hayden Forest the 

 experiments included studies of the effect of alternate grazing, 

 limited grazing, and total exclusion of stock. 



Closely alhed with the preceding study is that of the effect of soil 

 acidity or alkalinity upon the growth of forage plants. Both labora- 

 tory and field investigations were initiated during the year. 



An important study was undertaken at the Coconino Experiment 

 Station of the effects of stock grazing upon forest reproduction. 

 This study has now been extended to the Shasta Forest, and valuable 

 results are anticipated. 



Game Preserves. 



The status of the Wichita and Grand Canyon National Game 

 Refuges remained unchanged during the year. The efforts to protect 

 the wild game from slaughter and molestation within their natural 

 breeding grounds were wholly successful, and through the extermina- 

 tion of their natural enemies, proper restriction of grazing, and enforce- 

 ment of the law through the maintenance of an active and thorough 

 patrol, all species of game animals and birds multiplied encouragingly. 



The buffalo herd on the Wichita Game Refuge now^ numbers 30 

 head — double the original number. Through the courtesy of the 

 Boone and Crockett Club a shipment of antelope w^as received, of 

 which 7 head survived and are in thriving condition, 1 fawn having 



