QUESTIONS 83 



done most effectively by the judicious development of water 

 and the selection of salting stations. 



PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS 



1. Do not overgraze the range. Limit the number of stock 

 to what the pasture as a whole will support in good condition in 

 years of average precipitation and growth. 



2. Do not admit the stock in the spring until the herbaceous 

 forage is sufficiently developed to afford a good bite — say, until 

 it averages about 6 inches in height. 



3. Avoid overgrazing in early spring when the soil is wet. 



4. Fence, herd, salt, or otherwise control cattle so that the 

 animals will be held in the major seasonal grazing units. 



5. Secure at all times equitable distribution of the stock 

 within a pasture (seasonal) unit. This can be done most effec- 

 tively on cattle ranges by cross fencing or by the proper distri- 

 bution of water and salt, or preferably by a combination of these. 



6. Practice deferred grazing on at least one-fifth of the pasture 

 each year. As each selected area is revegetated, rotate the late 

 grazing in order to keep the plant cover as a whole vigorous and 

 productive at all times. 



QUESTIONS 



1. Why did not the enormous droves of buflfaloes that once roved over the 

 range cause depletion of the native western grazing grounds? Discuss the 

 significance of this fact in connection with revegetation. 



2. Discuss the economics of overgrazing. 



3. What are the chief points to be considered, so far as the plants are 

 concerned, in revcgetating an overgrazed pasture? 



4. What is the physiological significance of vigorous plant growth in early 

 spring? 



5. Does frequent harvesting of forage plants in a single season increase or 

 decrease the forage yield? Why? 



6. Discuss the relation of vigorous growth of bunchgrasses to seed pro- 

 duction. 



7. What are the chief disadvantages of yearlong grazing as related to 

 revegetation? 



8. Show why yearlong protection is not an effective means of reseeding 

 depleted pastures. 



9. What are the essential principles of the deferred-grazing system? 



