290 PROTECTION AGAINST DOMESTIC ANIMALS; GRAZING 



every part, although on some of them it has been considered 

 advisable to close certain areas to grazing of all kinds." 

 Grazing is allowed, but the numbers, season for grazing, 

 methods of handling the animals, etc., are carefully regulated. 



Experience in the western United States has demonstrated, 

 that the injurious effects of grazing increase rapidly with the 

 number of head of stock grazed on a given area. If over- 

 grazing is avoided, the damage to the average forest and soil 

 is so small as often to be safely disregarded. Until forage 

 becomes scarce, the animals do not browse the less palatable 

 food furnished by trees. By properly regulating the number 

 of animals sufficient forage is provided for all animals.. 



Sometimes the slash can be disposed of in such a manner " 

 around stumps or groups of reproduction as to protect the 

 young trees from the animals. 



Outside of the national forests little if anything has been 

 done to regulate grazing in forested areas. There is a large 

 field for its application on tracts of all sizes from the smallest 

 woodlot upward. 



The general trend of the live stock industry over the whole 

 country is toward more intensive methods of handling. As 

 this affects the forest, it means a restriction of the general 

 running of live stock over wild wooded areas and the increase 

 of feeding in buildings and well kept pastures. In parts of 

 the West where the national forest lands furnish the requisite 

 summer forage, the use of forested lands as grazing grounds 

 will continue indefinitely on a large scale. Elsewhere the 

 setting aside of separate areas for forest use and for pasturage 

 purposes is hkely to find increasing favor. 



