KEPOET OF THE FORESTER. 169 



RANGE MANAGEMENT. 



The National Forest ranges continue in strong demand. Good 

 prices for beef and mutton tend to encourage the present permittees 

 to enlarge their business and cause new men to apply for grazing 

 preferences. In some of the National Forests the high price of 

 both mutton and wool is tempting cattle owners to substitute sheep. 

 On the other hand, in some of the Northwestern States, where the 

 winter sheep ranges are being taken up by homesteaders, there is a 

 tendency to replace sheep by cattle, which can more readily be 

 winter-fed and cared for on the farms and pastures of their owners. 



Weather conditions during the year were somewhat unusual. The 

 summer and fall of 1915 were extremely dry and vegetation on the 

 ranges cured up much earlier than usual. It was generally felt that 

 stock would leave the National Forests much below the standard, 

 both in weight and general condition. On the contrary, with few 

 exceptions, not only were the animals fully as heavy as in past years, 

 but the flesh was extremely hard and firm, so that the shrinkage due 

 to trailing and driving and while en route to market was considerably 

 less than usual. The winter, with the exception of New Mexico and 

 Arizona in the extreme Southwest, was notable for its severity and 

 the very heavy snows that fell all over the West, and spring was 

 backward. Because of the dry season of 1915 the supply of hay in 

 the vicinity of the National Forests was below normal. It was nec- 

 essary to begin feeding stock much earlier than usual, and to con- 

 tinue late. In many localities the hay was wholly exhausted before 

 the middle of March and the stockmen were forced to turn their ani- 

 mals out on the near-by ranges to take their chances. The result was 

 a considerable loss of adult animals, and in some regions a heavy 

 reduction in the calf and lamb crop. 



Range conditions on June 30, 1916, were, with few exceptions, 

 reasonably normal, the forage growth having been very satisfactory, 

 although in many Forests the snow was still so deep that the stock 

 reached the high mountain ranges from two to three weeks later than 

 in average years. 



PERMITS. 



The number of grazing permits issued and the stock covered by 

 these permits are shown in Table 9. 



