100 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



preventing the failure of seeding operations through the work of 

 rodents, studied with the aid of the Bureau of Biological Survey. 

 gives promise of successful solution. Broadcast seeding on unpre- 

 pared ground, though altogether the cheapest method from the stand- 

 point of labor cost, has been found to be in the long run the most 

 expensive and the least satisfactory method, both because of the 

 relatively large amount of seed required and because the seed seldom 

 finds the conditions required for germination and the establishment 

 of the young plant. As a rule sowing in the fall has been found 

 better than winter or spring sowing, since it secures earlier and, with 

 many species, much more uniform and complete germination. In 

 some localities, however, the contrary is true. The average cost of 

 seeding in the larger administrative units varied from $2.35 to $6.95 

 per acre. Marked progress was made in reducing the cost of nursery- 

 grown stock, and it is believed that 2-year-old seedlings can soon 

 be produced for not over $1 per thousand plants and 2-year-old trans- 

 plants for not over $2 per thousand. One-year-old seedlings were 

 grown in Washington at 37^ cents per thousand, exclusive of the 

 cost of equipment, but a large part of the stock used in planting 

 during the year cost from $8 to $12 per thousand. The experimental 

 work was exceedingly varied, including many kinds of hardwoods 

 and the widest range of localities, conditions, and methods. 



GRAZING ON THE NATIONAL FORESTS. 



Both the number of animals grazed on the National Forests and 

 the receipts from grazing were less in the fiscal year 1911 than in 

 1910 ; the paid grazing permits issued covered about 1,352,000 cattle, 

 92,000 horses, 4,500 hogs, 7,372,000 sheep, and 78,000 goats. The 

 amount received from grazing was $935,490.38, which is $51,419 less 

 than last year. 



The falling off in the total number of stock grazed was due not 

 only to the reduction in the amount of the range available through 

 eliminations of land from the Forests, but also to general conditions 

 affecting the stock industry. The grazing season of the calendar year 

 1910 was one of abnormal scarcity of feed and water because of the 

 prolonged drought. The forage crop was estimated at from 25 to 33 

 per cent below normal, and matured very early. Nevertheless, the 

 stock grazed on the National Forests passed through the season with- 

 out severe losses and left the Forest ranges in better condition than 

 had generally been expected. High market prices for cattle, how- 

 ever, combined with scarcity of feed on the winter ranges and of 

 hay, together with the belief among sheep owners that the immediate 

 outlook for their industry was not favorable, caused large reductions 

 in the number of stock carried through the winter. In consequence 



