14 Forest Club Annual 



in handling, relative immunity from poisoning, increase in 

 lambs saved at lambing time, and improvement in the quality 

 and amount of wool. 



RESEEDING TO CULTIVATED FORAGE PLANTS. 



The wide diversity in the character of the native grazing 

 lands and in the general condition controlling growth naturally 

 results in considerable deviation in the adaptability and es- 

 tablishment of introduced or cultivated forage species. 



In general the conditions existing on the major portion 

 of the grazing lands are antagonistic toward the successful 

 establishment of cultivated grazing plants. The primary rea- 

 sons for failure are unsuitable topographic features and ex- 

 treme aridity coupled with inferior soils. Certain lands are 

 so rough and have such poorly disintegrated soils that very 

 little moisture is available during the important grazing sea- 

 son. In other localities the precipitation during the grazing 

 season is so slight that even the most drought-resistant native 

 vegetation makes poor headway. In general, the mountain 

 ranges and especially the meadows respond best to artificial 

 reseeding. 



Of the many forage species tested on the National Forests 

 relatively few have given satisfactory returns. In the selection 

 of the species three chief facts are considered ; first, the natural 

 requirements of the plant and the nature of the habitat to be 

 seeded; second, economy of expenditure based on cost of seed 

 per pound and the amount required to insure a satisfactory 

 cover; and third, the time required for the development of a 

 satisfactory stand and the ability of the species to withstand 

 trampling. 



The requirements of the different species, the cost of the 

 seed, and the ability of the plant to withstand the sharp- 

 cutting hoofs of the sheep vary widely. As a concrete ex- 

 ample, redtop succeeds better than any other known cultivated 

 forage grass on poorly drained bogs where the soil is acid in 

 character. It makes an excellent turf and is not easily injured 

 by trampling. On the other hand, Hungarian brome is wholly 

 unsuited to such a habitat but is better adapted than any 

 other to arid localities. Timothy is adapted to a very much 

 wider range of conditions than either of the species mentioned. 



