AMERICAN SYLVICULTURE 



also of the Lake States, lias oeoiipied the rank of the most 

 important forest industry. Nowadays, pasture is indicated on 

 many a windswept ridge where the growth of timber is stunted, 

 whilst the atmospheric moisture allows of a luxurious production 

 of grass. Under nut-bearing trees, hog pasture is highly remuner- 

 ative. In " strong " coves, the growth of weeds offers splendid 

 forage for cattle. 



The more inaccessible the forest, the less is the value of the 

 tree growth. Here an industry is advisable wliich converts vege- 

 table matter into animal matter. 



The advantage gained by pasturage during and previous to 

 regeneration frequently reduces the expense of regeneration. 



Mliether the fencing of forest pastures is advisable depends on 

 circumstances. A two-stringed barbed wire fence costs $40 per 

 mile. 



Goats, as extirpators of woody weeds (Corylus, Azalea) are 

 frequently useful on mountain pastures. 



Woody weeds damaging the pastures are kept in check by 

 continuous mowing, especially if mowed in August. A limited use 

 of fire, too, improves the pasture. Forest pastures are invaluable 

 as fire lanes. 



Pasturage of cattle extends in Pisgah Forest from May 1st to 

 October 15th. Sheep and hogs require feeding only in February. 

 The revenue made per month amounts per head of cattle, to fifty 

 cents; of liorses, seventy-five cents; of sheep, ten cents. 



Where the growth of trees on a permanent pasture is too 

 dense, deadening or coppicing is required. Where it is too little 

 or w'here erosion sets in, the pasture must be abandoned for a 

 number of years. Dead trees placed horizontally on pastured 

 slopes safeguard the pasture by terracing it. 



In European and in Indian forests, pasture still plays a most 

 important role, frequently as a prescriptive right encumbering 

 forests owned by the Crown or by the aristocracy. 



Relative to forest pasture in the National Forests, see 

 Schenck's " Forest Policy," pages 155 and 157. 



Relative to the protection of the forests against undue damages 

 resulting from forest pasture, compare Schenck's " Forest Protec- 

 tion," page 12, f.f. 



The American public, for one reason or another, has been slow- 

 to realize that the use of forests (by the tax- paying owners) for 

 pasturage is as correct, as justifiable, as legitimate, as is the use 

 of a farm for pasturage. Forest pastures, of course, should not be 

 maltreated any more than farm pastures. 

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