82 NATURAL RESEEDING AND MAINTENANCE 



system is effectively applied by means of division fences. On 

 unfenced cattle range, however, many complications must be, 

 and usually can be, overcome. 



On mountain cattle ranges it is often more difficult to reserve 

 forage until the seed has matured than on the lower, less rugged 

 lands. The situation is compHcated by the following conditions: 

 (i) Because of the diversity in elevation and slope all the forage 

 in the mountains does not start to grow at the same time; (2) the 

 character of the forage is widely variable as a result of the differ- 

 ent topographic features and the different elevations; (3) water 

 is often unevenly distributed and the supply not infrequently 

 temporary ; and (4) the lack of fences makes difficult the control 

 of cattle. 



The lower reaches of mountain range furnish ideal spring feed 

 and should be set aside for such use. Lands of medium elevation 

 produce succulent and otherwise desirable forage in midsummer 

 and should not be overrun by stock until the forage is nutritious 

 and has made sufficient growth to withstand grazing. The high 

 mountain lands, whose herbage is seldom sufficiently developed 

 until July to afford economical grazing, furnish superb late sum- 

 mer and autumn feed, and they should not be cropped early in 

 the season. 



Cattle have a tendency to drift to the higher lands. Not in- 

 frequently they will leave a deHcious menu of feed in the lower 

 types for a bit of mountain scenery. Herding does much to 

 prevent this drifting, but herding is expensive at best. The 

 most feasible plan is to fence the spring, midsummer, and late 

 summer and autumn range into large units. The initial cost of 

 fencing is high, but the saving of the herder's wages will often 

 pay for the fence before it has to be replaced. Moreover, a fence 

 is much more effective than herding in the control of cattle. 

 The effective practice of the deferred and rotation grazing system 

 within each seasonal unit, however, requires suitable division 

 fences, or effective herding, or some other control. If there are 

 no cross fences, and if no herder is employed, considerable 

 can be accomplished by properly distributing the stock. This is 



