METHODS OF RANGE IMPROVEMENT. 



Improvement of National Forest ranges may be effected in three 

 ways: 



1. Improved methods of handling stock. 



2. Improvement of range by natural reseeding. 



3. Improvement of range by artificial seeding. 



Sheep. By careful experimental study it has been found that sheep 

 unmolested in pasture require only from 65 to 80 per 

 handling ?he^tock f cen .t as much range as when herded in bands in the open. 

 This is due to the difference in the actions of the sheep. 

 In pasture they wander about singly or in groups as cattle do, graze 

 quietly, and bed in any opening where night overtakes them. Con- 

 sequently, the forage is eaten instead of being destroyed, as it is on 

 the range by close bunching, stampeding, and trailing back and forth 

 to camp. The more nearty the former condition can be approached 

 on National Forests the better for the range as well as for the sheep. 

 Herders should be induced, wherever possible, to avoid quick mass- 

 ing with dogs, to bed the band where night overtakes it, and to leave 

 a camp in good condition and return to it later rather than feeding it 

 out to its full capacity in one visit. 



Cattle. Cattle have a tendency to congregate and graze in areas 

 in the neighborhood of watering places and salt grounds. To offset 

 this new water holes may be developed and salt at a distance from 

 water distributed. 



Goats. Where goat herders maintain but one camp where the 

 goats return to bed night after night as is the custom, the entire range 

 about the camp is destroyed. Not only the grass and forage but the 

 shrubs and even small trees are killed. 



Where goats graze upon National Forest ranges they will not be 

 allowed for more than six successive nights upon one bed ground 

 except during the kidding season. If goat herders can be induced to 

 handle their bands with a movable camp following the herd, the 

 damage done could be greatly reduced and much of the objection to 

 their presence on National Forests would be removed. The rapidity 

 with which feeding goats move over a range is another injurious 

 element. This may be prevented by the herder if he will hold t" 

 herd and force them to scatter and graze more openly. 



One of the chief reasons for the slow recovery of impoverish 



Natural reseedin ran g es is ^ ne f ac ^ that the forage is usually gra 



each year before the seed crop is mature. It has been 

 found that a portion at least of each range can be protected until the 

 seed of the most important forage species has matured and scattered 

 with no serious inconvenience to the stockmen. The area that can 

 be set aside for later grazing will depend upon the time at which the 

 seed crop ripens. If, for example, one-fifth of the season remains 

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