234 



THE IKEIGATION AGE. 



nessed, according to the locality to camels, oxen, or 

 horses of the steppe. It may be said, in short, that the 

 complicated American agricultural machinery has pene- 

 trated into those regions of Asia where Russian civiliza- 

 tion and culture exist. If we refer to European Russia, 

 we notice that during the later years American culti- 

 vators, not mentioning many other agricultural imple- 

 ments, have found wide adaptation on sugar beet planta- 

 tions. Another kind of machine of American construc- 

 tion, will, in the near future, find a ready market in 

 Russia these are gasoline engines and pumping ma- 

 chinery, especially in Trans-Caucasus, where the 

 abundance of naphtha, the richness of the soil, the small 

 cost of labor, favor the adoption of these machines for 

 the supply of water to the canals and the development of 

 irrigation. The American methods of construction of 

 irrigation works and the various kinds of co-operations 

 may be successfully utilized in Russia. * 



These examples suffice to illustrate that the mutual 

 study of agricultural conditions in Russia and in the 

 United States is advantageous to both countries and 

 will co-operate in the establishment of an understand- 

 ing between two great nations in the fuller utilization 

 of their natural wealth for the benefit of man. 



At the same time, I take pleasure in expressing my 

 sincere thanks to all those who have tendered me such 

 courteous assistance in my investigation of irrigation 

 works in America. 



Should there ever be organized in the United States 

 a society whose aim would be the study of agricultural 

 conditions in Russia and in the United States for the 

 purpose of exchanging experiences gleaned in agri- 

 cultural work in general, in view of the similarity of 

 certain regions in the two countries, I would think that 

 many a Russian would gladly join this association. 

 Yours very truly, 



NICHOLAS SINELNIKOFF, 

 Agricultural Engineer. 



CONTROL OF GRAZING ON THE PUBLIC LANDS. 



Successful Permit System Now in Force on Reserve 

 Ranges Improves Pasturage and Insures Sta- 

 bility of Live-Stock Industry. 



The following is sent out for publication by the 

 Forest Service, United States Department of Agricul- 

 ture: 



Now that the Government grazing policy is in 

 successful operation on the National forest reserves, 

 the question has arisen whether the same or some sim- 

 ilar policy might not be applied to the open public 

 range. 



The policy of the Forest Service is not to hold the 

 reserves out of use, but to secure their fullest and 

 most permanent use. To this end, grazing under proper 

 restrictions is permitted. Happily, these restrictions 

 have thus far met with general approval. 



From the first, the importance of fitting the regu- 

 lations to local conditions has been recognized. Rules 

 occasioning needless hardship to stockmen have been 

 modified, and emergencies demanding instant action 

 have been promptly met. 



When a new reserve has been proclaimed all stock 

 grazing upon it is allowed to remain during the first 

 year; if, afterward, this number is found to be too 

 great for the resources of the range, it is gradually re- 



duced. Stockmen are aided in effecting a satisfactory 

 distribution of their stock upon the range and in secur- 

 ing from it the most profitable and permanent use. 

 Small stock owners living in the vicinity of the reserves 

 are given such preference in the allotment of grazing 

 privileges as will protect their interests. First occu- 

 pants of the range and farmers are also preferred. The 

 rights of large owners based upon the range custom of 

 the past are recognized, and reductions in the number 

 of their stock are required only when necessary to pro- 

 tect the range of the grazing rights of bona fide settlers. 



Necessary range divisions between owners of dif- 

 ferent kinds of stock are made, and controversy between 

 sheepmen and cattlemen is promptly ended. Where 

 necessary, the construction of drift or division fences 

 is also allowed, provided the area fenced is not greater 

 than the needs of the stock owner. 



Outside the forest reserves, however, is an area of 

 public land, estimated at 400,000,000 acres, which has 

 no present value except for grazing purposes. On this 

 land grazing is wholly unrestrained by law. Commer- 

 cial interests, great and small, have competed for its 

 use, and the result has been abuse of the range. Mil- 

 lions of acres have been recklessly overgrazed and prac- 

 tically ruined. In his last annual message, the Presi- 

 dent says: "It is probable that the present grazing 

 value of the open public range is scarcely more than 

 half what it once was, or what it might easily be again 

 under careful regulation." Some stockmen have, to the 

 exclusion of others, possessed themselves of the strategic 

 positions that is, the lands controlling the streams, 

 springs, and other watering places, and by this means 

 have secured temporary control of the adjoining grazing 

 lands. Charges of fraudulent entry have led to litiga- 

 tion. Great areas have been illegally fenced. Again, 

 stock owners, notably sheep and cattle men, have de- 

 fended their conflicting claims by force of arms, causing 

 serious loss of property and even of life. 



Obviously such conditions should be corrected by 

 law. The remedy would seem to be to apply to the open 

 public range the regulations already governing the for- 

 est reserves. This conclusion is strengthened not only 

 by the success attending the forest-reserve policy, but 

 also by the effect of fencing the public grazing lands. 

 Though illegal, this fencing has in most cases greatly 

 improved the condition of the area inclosed. Care, how- 

 ever, must be taken to avoid the application of sweeping 

 and ironclad regulations to an area so vast and to con- 

 ditions so different. The investigations of the Public 

 Lands Commission show that immediate application of 

 any inflexible rule to all grazing lands alike, regardless 

 of local conditions or grazing values, would be disas- 

 trous, and that improvement must be sought through 

 the gradual introduction into each locality of such form 

 of control as is specifically suited to it. 



In his message, already referred to, the President 

 says : 



"The best use of the public grazing lands requires 

 the careful examination and classification of these lands 

 in order to give each settler land enough to support his 

 family and no more. While this work is being done, 

 and until the lands are settled, the Government should 

 take control of the open range, under reasonable regula- 

 tions suited to local needs, following the general policy 

 already in successful operation on the forest reserves." 



Should the policy thus suggested be established by 

 law great good would undoubtedly result. 



