228 



BURNING OF PASTURE LANDS 



a secondary matter, these animals may, in general, be depended 

 upon to kill all species of brush whose leafage is palatable to 

 them. 



Provided erosion is not started, the disposal of brush by grazing 

 has an advantage over burning in that the soil humus and decay- 



{Forest Sereice.) 

 Fig. 73— goats ON PALATABLE BROWSE MAY CROP SO CLOSELY AS TO KILL 

 OUT THE COVER IN TWO OR THREE YEARS. 



Not uncommonly the bark of the stems and lower branches is closely consumed. 



ing vegetable matter are not destroyed. However, as a rule, 

 the soil on areas overgrazed in this way is heavily packed by 

 trampling. This leaves the soil in bad physical tilth and for a 

 time decreases its forage yield; but, if the cleared area is plowed, 

 the ill effects that would follow packing are prevented. 



Effect of Burning Wooded Pastures and Forested Ranges. — 

 On wooded pastures and forest ranges fires ordinarily cause much 

 more damage to the timber than to the forage. On mountain 

 range or, indeed, wherever the topography is broken, the timber, 

 in addition to its monetary value, usually is of high importance 



