20 NATIONAL FOREST, STATE, AND PRIVATE LANDS 



above sea level in the foothills and valleys to 10,000 feet or more 

 at the crest (Figs. 5 and 6). This intensive utilization is neces- 

 sary because of the ever-increasing demand for range. Accord- 

 ingly, therefore, the question of the proper handling of the stock 

 without serious injury to the vegetation generally is of the great- 

 est economic importance, and is often most perplexing. The 

 attempt to solve the many technical and practical grazing prob- 

 lems with v/hich the United States Forest Service is faced has 

 resulted in the development of a corps of range experts, the 

 value of whose service is very great. 



The growth of the grazing industry on the National Forests 

 has been steady and rapid since the lands came under the control 

 of the Forest Service. The following table shows the number 

 of cattle and sheep grazed on the National Forests in eleven 

 western range States from 191 5 to 1920, inclusive. 



