REPORT OF THE FORESTER. 193 



sit}' of inimecliate steps to revegetate such lands when vegetation has 

 been so reduced that erosion has begun. 



Investigations in California and Oregon to determine the effect of 

 burning over brush areas upon the value of these areas for grazing 

 were continued. 



In the study of methods of handling cattle made at the Jornada 

 Range Reserve, a calf crop fully 10 per cent above the average of 

 the locality was saved from a breeding herd held on a fenced range 

 under improved methods and given a small amount of supplemental 

 feeding; while from another herd fed an average of 50 pounds of 

 cottonseed cake per head and given still better care, the saving 

 exceeded the average by more than 20 per cent. Loss from blackleg, 

 straying, and starvation was kept down to only a little over 1^ 

 per cent from the entire herd of 4,500 head, including stock of all 

 ages. The average losses reported by stoclonen in New Mexico in 

 connection with the meat investigation were: Calves to 12 months 

 of age, 10.6 per cent; yearlings, 5.6 per cent; and stock 2 years 

 old and OA^er, 5.8 per cent. These results, if confirmed in subsequent 

 years, should stimulate more feeding to supplement range forage, 

 better care of range to prevent overstocking and starvation of stock, 

 greater effort to prevent loss from disease, and segregation and 

 special care of breeding stock to increase the calf crop. 



The marked advantages of the bedding-out system of handling 

 sheep was further demonstrated through tests on Utah, ]\Iontana, and 

 California forests. Further data were secured on lambing sheep 

 under range conditions, and on the carrying capacity of sheep and 

 cattle ranges. Advance was made in methods of salting cattle and 

 in showing the value of well-distributed watering places. 



Demonstration tests of tall larkspur eradication were undertaken 

 in cooperation with stockmen on the Stanislaus, Durango, Fishlake, 

 Sevier, Palisade, Minidoka, Lemhi, and Weiser Forests. In every 

 case losses from poisoning were reduced to an extent which more 

 than justified the cost. IMinor investigations were started to work 

 out methods of getting rid of other poisonous plants, but practical 

 application of results has not yet been attempted. 



For the grazing season of 1917 investigations were largely discon- 

 tinued, except at the Jornada Range Reserve and the Utah Experi- 

 ment Station, where they were greatly curtailed, and all available 

 c^ualified men were assigned to the emergency campaign to increase 

 live-stock production. 



OTHER INVESTIGATIONS. 



STUDY OF THE LUMBER INDUSTRY. 



The study of the lumber industry begun in 1914, the scope of 

 which, and some of the most important conclusions of which, have 

 been outlined in previous reports, was continued in cooperation with 

 the Federal Trade Commission and the Bureau of Foreign and 

 Domestic Commerce. The summary section of the report was issued 

 and four additional sections were completed and sent to the printer. 

 Substantial progress was made upon most of the remaining seven 

 sections, although the date of completion of all has been materially 

 delayed by war conditions and demands. 

 33382°— AGR 1917 13 



