2i6 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



considered a fair division in the use of the range. It 

 has been found that oftentimes a better utilization of 

 the forage has been obtained in this way, as there 

 would be portions of each district which were better 

 adapted to the pasturing of one class of stock than 

 the other at certain periods of the season, and that 

 sheep would eat many little weeds and plants which 

 were not touched by cattle, and cattle many of the 

 coarser grasses which the sheep did not feed upon. 

 As long as the total number of each class of stock is 

 restricted to the actual capacity of the range and each 

 stockman knows such to be the fact, there is no trouble 

 between the different owners, and all soon realize the 

 benefits and appreciate the value of this system of 

 control. 



One of the greatest causes of forest destruction 

 throughout the West has been fire, and the prevention 

 of fires is one of the most difficult problems in the 

 management of the reserves. Just how far the stock- 

 men have been responsible for the destruction of the 

 forest by fire is a hard matter to determine. Burning 

 to clear out the brush and undergrowth so that cattle 

 could have free access to the grass, and burning the 

 old grass in places where it had not been grazed off, 

 for the purpose of securing a new growth of green 

 feed, have been resorted to in past years, but these 

 customs have been almost entirely abandoned on 

 account of their general destructiveness. 



A large proportion of forest fires start from camp 

 fires, which are thoughtlessly left by campers, pros- 

 pectors, hunters, and stockmen. It is of great import- 

 ance that the unnecessary destruction from this cause 

 be realized and every precaution taken to reduce the 

 prevalence of fires started in this way. 



The reports of the forest reserve supervisors show 



