ELEVATIONAL LIMITATIONS OF RESEEDING 



51 



and, because no fertile seed is produced, the stand usually disap- 

 pears in a few years. 



The elevational limitation in seeding varies appreciably with 

 latitude and is approximately 2,500 feet higher in southern New 

 Mexico than in northern Washington. In the Northwest it 



Fig. 14. — relation OF YIELD OF TIMOTHY TO ELEVATION. 



The three stems to the left represent a stand of timothy produced on range in Oregon at an elevation 

 of s,ooo feet above sea level. The three on the right were grown at an elevation of 7,500 feet. 

 The size of the stems is a direct inde.x of the forage yield. 



seldom pays to reseed at elevations in excess of about 7,500 feet 

 above sea level, whereas in southern California good stands have 

 been obtained at an altitude of about 10,000 feet. 



The native vegetation itself furnishes the most reliable basis 

 for determining the maximum elevation at which seeding may 

 pay. Where the alpine vegetation becomes scrubby it is evi- 

 dent that the elevation is in excess of that at which seeding is 

 practicable. No seeding to cultivated plants should be attemp- 

 ted above true timberline. In general it may be stated that 

 seeding will not pay within about 1,000 to 1,500 feet of timber- 

 line, an elevation at which the timberline trees do not make 

 good development. The efifect of elevation on growth is ap- 

 parent at both extremes. At very high elevations seeding is 

 unsatisfactory because of the short growing season and the low 



