246 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



stripped of their foliage as high as the sheep could 

 reach. The similar species were entirely denuded. 

 Sheep are said not to graze on conifers, but in numer- 

 ous cases the Engelmann spruce, Lodgepole pine, 

 balsam, and Douglas fir were stripped of their foilage 

 as high up as sheep could reach. In that year the 

 grazing privilege was granted to 180,000 sheep, a 

 number far in excess of what the conditions warranted. 

 The number actually grazed was probably still larger. 

 In 1901 and 1902 the conditions were very much im- 

 proved. 



So many sheep in the reserve cannot help being 

 injurious to the forest. The indiscriminate grazing in 

 the burnt timber destroys the herbaceous plants and 

 keeps the small shrubs in an enfeebled condition and 

 thus prevents the renewal of the forest. 



In no case did I observe young pines where fires 

 have occurred during the last eight or ten years. But 

 in timber nearing maturity, and even mature timber, 

 the injury was great. The herbaceous plants are in- 

 jured to such an extent that reseeding is impossible. 

 Seven years ago herbaceous plants were in abundance 

 along all of the brooks. Now, however, they are con- 

 fined to the headwaters of the streams and plentiful 

 only just below timber line. Many valuable grasses 

 were once abundant, but now have become rare be- 

 cause the plants do not have a chance to reseed the 

 ground since the roots are destroyed by tramping and 

 close grazing. 



In order that sheep owners may have a longer lease 

 of the forest reserve the suggestion has been made, 

 by those who are interested in the sheep grazing ques- 

 tion, that every sheep owner who receives the privilege 

 from the Government should be compelled to reseed 

 the ground with grass seed and let the grazing go on 



