10 BULLETIN 34, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



YEARLONG PROTECTION OF THE RANGE. 



It is plain enough that yearlong or season-long grazing, as just 

 discussed, tends neither to maintain the forage crop nor to improve 

 the carrying capacity of overgrazed lands nor does it favor the best 

 interests of the stockman. On the other hand, the plan of closing 

 certain depleted lands during the period required for revegetation 

 might seem at first sight to meet the requirements in a practicable 

 way. It might seem best to carry out such an alternating system 

 of season-long grazing and protection, so that when one portion of 

 the range is thoroughly reseeded another may be protected until the 

 original productivity of the entire range is restored. This plan 

 implies, of course, that protection would result in satisfactory re- 

 vegetation. Moreover, if the grazing industry is not to be seriously 

 interfered with the extent of range protected must be determined by 

 the demands upon the grazing land. 



To determine definitely the practicability of reseeding the range 

 in this way several plots, lying between elevations of 3,000 and 7,000 

 feet, on which vegetation had been weakened through overgrazing, 

 were fenced in 1907. An area, at 3,000 feet supplied a sparse stand of 

 vegetation, consisting mainly of annual species, chiefly soft cheat or 

 chess (Bromus hordeaceus). A few widely scattered tufts of two 

 perennial grasses, big bunchgrass (Agropyron spicatum) and June 

 grass (Koeleria cristata) were also found. The plots located at about 

 5.200 feet elevation supported a variety of annual and perennial 

 grasses and other plants. The high mountain plots, shown in Plate 

 V, supported mainly perennial grasses, annual weeds, Douglas knot- 

 weed {Polygonum- douglasii) being particularly conspicuous in 

 places. Each plot contained enough vegetation to produce at least 

 a small seed crop after vigor had been regained through the much- 

 needed rest. During the first two seasons of protection, especially 

 the second year, the herbage of the perennial vegetation increased to 

 a notable degree. In addition, the stand was somewhat improved by 

 new shoots from the rootstocks. But there was no reproduction from 

 seed. The annual species, of course, have no rootstocks, but their 

 reproduction from seed is relatively good. During the first season 

 the perennial vegetation produced very few flower stalks and practi- 

 cally no fertile seed. At the end of the second season all species 

 appeared to be fairly vigorous, and while at least a small seed crop 

 was developed on each plot, virtually no new plants of the perennial 

 species had come up from seed. By the close of the third season the 

 plants appeared to have fully recovered their vitality, and a thor- 

 ough^ satisfactory seed crop of average germinative power lay scat- 

 tered over the plots in the autumn. 



In the spring of the fourth season the lowest areas had improved 

 to a marked degree in carrying capacity through the increased stand 



