10 Forest Club Annual 



tecting young tree growth against injury by grazing. Al- 

 though many recognized and deplored these natural results 

 of unrestricted grazing, they felt that government control 

 would not better conditions; that regulation meant interfer- 

 ence with their established rights; and that it would demor- 

 alize the stock business. The silviculturist, on the other 

 hand, recognized that the prime purpose in withdrawing 

 these large areas of forested lands was to conserve the tim- 

 ber supply. He considered that the forest cover should be 

 maintained and that, if stock were interfering with the 

 growth of young trees, grazing should be restricted and if 

 necessary prohibited. 



It became the duty of the forest officers to reconcile the 

 demands of these apparently conflicting interests. The fair- 

 est plan proved to be such a coordination of all interests 

 depending upon the forest resources as would result in the 

 fullest use of these resources without jeapordizing their 

 future yield. The policy adopted encouraged the grazing 

 of stock so long as it did not impair the forage cover an-] 

 did not seriously interfere with the growth of young timber. 

 To accomplish these ends the following general regulations 

 have been provided: 



1. Permits are required for all stock using the range. 

 This tends to prevent irresponsible grazing and is the first 

 essential in any sort of range control. 



2. Estimates are made each year of the carrying capa- 

 city of each forest divided into grazing districts and per- 

 mits are based upon these estimates. In cases where it is 

 necessary to reduce the number of stock in a given district, 

 the reductions are made gradually, and wherever possible, 

 the surplus stock are shifted to undergrazed areas. 



3. Each permit specifies the area of the permitee's allot- 

 ment. Where stock movements are under control, which is 

 generally the case with sheep, and with cattle and horses 

 where drift fences, pastures, and natural barriers form range 

 boundaries, permittees are required to keep their stock 

 within specified limits. Responsibility for the 'handling of 

 any allotment is in this way fixed and the best distribution 

 of stock according to the amount of feed and the general con- 

 dition of the range is secured. 



4. Permits specify the opening and closing dates of 

 the season for which they are issued. These dates are so 

 adjusted as to prevent too close grazing before forage growth 



