84 THE SCHOOL BOOK OF FORESTRY 



officers and blazed and marked with a "U.S." 

 This marking is done carefully so as to protect 

 the forest and insure a future crop of trees on 

 the area. Timber is furnished at low rates to 

 local farmers, settlers, and stockmen for use in 

 making improvements. Much fire wood and dead 

 and down timber also is given away. The re- 

 moval of such material lessens the fire danger 

 in the forest. 



Over a billion feet of timber, valued at more 

 than $3,000,000, is sold annually from the Na- 

 tional Forests. 



One generally does not think of meat, leather 

 and wool as forest crops. Nevertheless, the 

 National Forests play an important part in the 

 western livestock industry. Experts report that 

 over one-fifth of the cattle and one-half of the 

 sheep of the western states are grazed in the 

 National Forests. These livestock are estimated 

 to be worth nearly one-quarter billion dollars. 

 More than 9,500,000 head of livestock are pas- 

 tured annually under permit in the Federal 

 forests. In addition, some 4,000,000 to 6,000,000 

 calves and lambs are grazed free of charge. 



The ranges suitable for stock grazing are used 

 to pasture sheep, cattle, horses, hogs and goats. 



