18 Forest Club Annual 



that had been comparatively early and closely cropped for a 

 number of seasons showed that the highly relished species 

 were so weakened as the result of being repeatedly deprived 

 of their leafy herbage and consequent suffering from starva- 

 tion, that the flower stalks, if produced at all, were sent up 

 too late for the seed to reach maturity prior to inclement 

 weather. This condition, however, was overcome by the de- 

 ferred grazing system, i.e., protecting the ranges until growth 

 had ceased, for then the necessary nutrients had been stored 

 in the roots and crowns. 



It was interesting to note that on the areas set aside for 

 the natural reseeding experiment the recovery of the weak- 

 ened vegetation was quite as rapid as upon small areas pro- 

 tected yearlong from grazing. On the latter areas, as on the 

 deferred grazing lands, the vegetative growth increased 

 rapidly and the flower-stalk production and seed maturity were 

 completed about the time that these functions were begun on 

 the ranges grazed at the usual period. On the yearlong pro- 

 tected areas, however, practically no forage seedlings have 

 come in and in this respect they differ from the deferred 

 grazing experimental areas. On the deferred grazing lands, 

 before putting into effect the natural reseeding scheme, none 

 of the forage plants eaten with avidity were reproducing. 

 The only seedlings found were from seed of early-maturing, 

 unpalatable plants, the predominating species being a useless 

 sedge, locally called sickle sedge (Carcx umbellata brevirestris). 

 In 19\)9, however, after one season's trial of natural reseeding, 

 all the valuable range plants, including mountain bunchgrass, 

 were producing abundantly. As a result of the development 

 and maturity of the seed crop these ranges exceeded by 90 

 per cent the seedling stand in existence prior to the reseeding 

 test. The matter of reproduction is largely dependent upon 

 the planting of the seed crop. When sheep graze the range 

 after the seed has fallen it is well ground into the soil and a 

 high per cent of germination is assured. On the contrary, 

 when the lands are entirely closed to grazing the seed can only 

 get into the soil through the action of natural agencies. On 

 the yearlong protected areas it is found that only the species 

 bearing prominent awns or beards in conjunction with the 

 seeds, like porcupine grass (Stipa Occident alis), are reproduc- 



