Nov. 16, 19M Revegetation of Range Lands 143 



insure permanent improvement grazing must be suspended from the 

 time the first seed crop is produced until the seedlings become established. 

 Notwithstanding the fact that half the stand in existence in the autumn 

 is likely to be eliminated by grazing, the planting of an additional seed 

 crop will, as a rule, fully offset this loss. 



The time at which the seed crop of the established vegetation reaches 

 maturity, marking the approximate limit of growth and occurring in the 

 region studied about September i , is the beginning of the period when the 

 range may be grazed with the least injury to forage seedlings. During the 

 four weeks prior to this period the root system almost doubles its growth 

 and strength. 



On account of the much more elaborately developed root system at the 

 end of the second year of the seedlings' growth, the loss through grazing 

 at that period perceptibly lessens. Even then, however, the range should 

 not be grazed prior to the maturity of the seed crop. Restriction of 

 grazing to the period following seed maturity will give both the i- and 

 2-year-old plants sufficient protection to insure the restocking of the 

 range. 



To sum up the conclusions regarding deferred grazing, it may be said 

 that the system has proved highly successful wherever an adequate seed 

 crop was produced. Its advantages over yearlong grazing and yearlong 

 protection are (i) the restoration and maintenance of the vegetation 

 without the loss of the forage crop in any year, (2) the planting of the 

 seed, and (3) the removal of the vegetation itself, thus minimizing the 

 fire danger from an accumulation of inflammable material. 



Deferred grazing has all the advantages of complete protection, so 

 far as the rejuvenation of the weakened plants is concerned; and, if 

 overstocking and abusive management are guarded against, the system 

 will work no material injury to forest reproduction or watersheds. It 

 is believed, therefore, that the principles of deferred grazing, with what- 

 ever modifications are necessary to meet local conditions, should he 

 applied to the management of all ranges. 



APPLICATION OF DEFERRED GRAZING vSYSTEM TO RANGE 

 MANAGEMENT 



WHERE APPLICABLE 



If grazing lands are to be fully revegetated within a reasonable time, 

 the range lands must, of course, support at the outset at least a sparse 

 stand of the species valuable for grazing and revegetation purposes. 

 In the Wallowa Mountains, where mountain bunch-grass constitutes the 

 predominating herbage, a satisfactory seed crop and subsequent seedling 

 stand were secured where the original tussocks stood as far apart as 

 6 feet. Where grazing has been so severe as to destroy the major por- 

 tion of the original vegetation, the remaining plants may not produce 



