PREFACE 



The purpose of this book is three-fold. In view of the fact 

 that nearly everywhere in this country today the solution of 

 pasture problems is urgently pressing, it is hoped the book may 

 encourage agricultural colleges to include courses in pasture and 

 range management in their curricula. It aims, also, to assist, if 

 only in a sm.all way, in the solution of the local pasture problems 

 of those who have not had an opportunity to attend college. 

 Chiefly, the book is intended to provide systematic instruction 

 for those who desire a practical working knowledge of the sub- 

 ject, as well as for those who wish to follow technical grazing 

 work as a profession and fit themselves to hold such positions 

 as those offered by the United States Forest Service. Among 

 these, students of professional forestry are quite as much in 

 need of general training in this subject as are students of general 

 agriculture. 



The absolute essentials of living are supplied by four basic 

 industries — farming, livestock production, forestry, and mining. 

 All other business enterprises, broadly considered, are merely the 

 result of the four basic industries. Approximately one-third of 

 the cost of eating and a considerable part of the cost of living are 

 expended upon meats and the by-products of the livestock 

 industry — leather, wool, fats, and other such commodities. 



For the attainment of success, no business is more dependent 

 upon the broad application of the sciences than is that of pro- 

 ducing livestock on range and pasture. Unfortunately, many 

 persons are skeptical regarding the application of scientific 

 principles to their agricultural operations, and are inclined to 

 distinguish between what they term " practical " and what 

 they call " scientific." Today, with a tendency toward the 

 narrowing of the margin of profits in the production of pasture 

 livestock, the use of " extended and systematized common- 

 sense," as one careful thinker defines science, is essential to 



