674 A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 



the necessity for handling livestock on open ranges of great extent in 

 remote and" rugged country, constitute markedly different problems 

 from those of the ordinary cultivated pasture. 



The work has resulted in the determination of the most important 



Elants growing on the western mountain ranges as a whole, and has 

 id to some general observational records of the forage value of differ- 

 ent plants based upon the extent to which they are eaten by livestock. 

 Aside from this it has so far been confined largely to the intermoun- 

 tain and the southwestern regions. 



For a considerably smaller number of the more valuable plants in 

 these two regions much more intensive information has been obtained 

 on the growth habits, with particular reference to grazing use. 



The work has developed some important general principles govern- 

 ing grazing use which apply with local adaptations to conditions 

 throughout the entire West. Among these principles are the neces- 

 sity for a very conservative stocking of the range on account of the 

 striking decrease in growth of range plants during the periodical dry 

 years or cycles; of allowing vegetation to make vigorous growth 

 before being grazed; of giving bunch grasses periodic opportunities 

 to reseed ; of grazing sheep and goats openly and quietly and bedding 

 them down in new places every night; and of obtaining better dis- 

 tribution of cattle on the range through well-placed watering places 

 and better salting methods. A fair beginning has been made in a 

 few localities on such fundamental questions as succession. Progress 

 has also been made in determining the character and amount and also 

 the cause of damage by livestock to forest reproduction and in work- 

 ing out forms of regulation to minimize or prevent damage. 



The need for range research is by no means confined to the regions 

 and types where it has so far been concentrated. Fortunately, in- 

 creased appropriations made it possible to begin work in California 

 and in the Northern Rocky Mountain regions during the fiscal 

 year 1932. Investigations should at the earliest possible date be 

 extended to other western types and regions and to eastern regions 

 where, as in the South, range use now accompanies or can possibly 

 accompany timber growing. 



As contrasted with the long-time requirements of forest manage- 

 ment for the growth of timber and cutting at intervals of several or 

 many years, range management in the main involves the annual 

 growth and use of annual or perennial plants. It requires knowledge 

 which will permit the best species and mixtures of range plants to be 

 maintained under use up to specified standards which must be deter- 

 mined. For depleted ranges it must also determine ways and means 

 of restoration. Where timber production is the main objective, the 

 possibility of range use depends upon whether timber can be grown 

 successfully on the same area, and this must first be determined. The 

 next step is the proper coordination of the two forms of use. 



The more intensive research lies almost entirely ahead, and this 

 among other things requires the breaking down of broader prob- 

 lemsplant succession, competitive relationships, soil productivity, 

 physiological response to use, etc. into factors which can be studied 

 and evaluated in an exact way. 



The large problem of range management will deal with native 

 plants and natural revegetation. There is the opportunity, however, 

 for artificial reseeding on which as yet only a few empirical tests have 



