Quadrat Method in Forestry Investigations 25 



has resulted in the adoption of a safe and permanent grazing 

 policy on the various types and under the different Conditions. 

 This policy will tend to put both timber and meat production on a 

 firmer and more stable basis than formerly. Evidence of this is 

 obvious from the fact that serious injuries to reproduction may 

 largely be avoided through proper regulation of grazing, and as 

 a result the annual herbage crop may be utilized to the greatest 

 possible extent consistent with the welfare of the reproduction. 



Management of the Range Lands. 



In the management of the range, from the standpoint ot 

 the maintenance of the forage crop, it is desirable to note, among 

 other things, the extent to which the most valuable forage plants 

 are becoming established and holding their place against grazing. 

 On certain high mountain lands on the Manti National Forest 

 rather extensive areas in the subalpine zone, before they were 

 under Governmental jurisdiction, -suffered depletion due to range 

 abuse. This resulted not only in the notable decrease of the an- 

 nual forage crop but in serious erosion due to the elimination of 

 the ramifying roots which bind the soil. In order to increase 

 the carrying capacity of the range and at the same time check 

 serious erosion it is essential to reestablish a permanent vegeta- 

 tive cover. To accomplish this end the range is moderately graz- 

 ed by cattle and sheep, which are not allowed to enter earlier 

 than August 15 instead of early in the spring as formerly. 



Naturally the time at which the herbage is grazed, coupled 

 with the life history performances of the vegetation, would 

 largely decide whether or not vegetation is gaining dominion over 

 the soil under the present range practice. The life history can 

 best be determined by the quadrat method. Accordingly, 25 

 sample plots of the denuded or depopulated, the chart and the 

 list kinds, were established in 1913. These plots were designed 

 to give (1) the general expression of seed viability by noting the 

 identity and number of each species invading denuded plots, (2) 

 an expression of the seed viability under conditions of natural 

 competition as shown in the case of the chart plots, (3) the ag- 

 gressiveness and superiority of species under conditions of little 

 or no plant competition, (4) aggressiveness of species under con- 

 ditions of intense competition, (5) fatality of seedlings due to 

 grazing and to climatic conditions, and (6) rate of vegetative 

 increment. 



Charts of plots No. 18 and No. 19 are here presented, as con- 

 crete examples, to show how these units are usually mapped and 



