286 PROTECTION AGAINST DOMESTIC ANIMALS; GRAZING 



Sheep with their short tread and sharp feet are particularly- 

 injurious to the soil. 



Efect Upon Reproduction. — The branches and terminal 

 shoots of seedlings suffer from browsing. As a result they 

 are deformed and lose increment. Sometimes seedlings are 

 killed. If not killed the seedKngs eventually may grow in 

 height until their crowns are above the reach of animals. In 

 such cases the deformities received in early youth are out- 

 grown by the time the tree is ready for cutting.^ 



Hogs eat the seeds of certain species such as the oaks, and 

 in the case of the long leaf pine, uproot and devour the roots. 

 Indeed hogs are a primary factor in preventing longleaf pine 

 reproduction.'^ 



Many seedKngs are injured by being trampled upon, and by 

 having their roots exposed and barked. 



Sometimes bark is gnawed or peeled from seedlings. Goats 

 in particular perform this type of injury. They are consid- 

 ered the most destructive to reproduction of all the domestic 

 animals. 



In addition to injuring or destroying existing reproduction, 

 animals through their effect on the soil may create seedbed 

 conditions unfavorable for the start of reproduction. Their 

 influence upon the seedbed may be beneficial, especially that 

 of hogs. The latter in their search for food mix the litter and 

 soil and may expose the mineral soil. 



Where in a mixed stand, species with palatable seeds are 

 less desirable in management than others with inedible seeds 

 and preference for a mineral seedbed, hogs may be of distinct 

 benefit. Shortleaf pine in mixtures of oak is favored by the 

 grazing of hogs for this reason. 



The loss of all or a portion of the reproduction may result 

 in inadequate density of stocking, which in turn means lower 

 increment or reduced quality of product. 



