60 BULLETIN 7C0, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



ing up depleted ranges and maintaining all range lands by giving tlie 

 desirable native forage plants a chance to reproduce. The mainte- 

 nance of maximum forage production would not be difficult if graz- 

 ing could be deferred on all ranges each year until the forage plants 

 have gone to seed. Protection to this extent, however, is clearly im- 

 practicable because of the need for range forage during the main 

 growing season of the vegetation. Necessity, therefore, demands a 

 system which will permit the maximum gTazing possible during the 

 growing season and still maintain the range. Such a system must 

 take into consideration the requirements of the vegetation which 

 makes up the forage crop and the relation of grazing to these re- 

 quirements at different stages of growth. For many of the more im- 

 portant forage plants the natural requirements of growth and re- 

 production, as well as the way in which grazing interferes with or 

 promotes these requirements, have been studied; and though ther^ 

 is a great deal yet to be learned along these lines, fundamental prin- 

 ciples of gTazing management have been developed which have given 

 good results in practical application. 



It remains to extend the application of these principles to other 

 ranges. In doing so, the first step is to fix the opening of the graz- 

 ing season in accordance with the suggestions of the paragraphs on 

 Grazing Periods. Unless this is done, the management which follows 

 will not produce the results desired. The next step is to carry out 

 the suggestions given in the discussion of Grazing Capacity. It is 

 important, then, that the management of the stock be such as to se- 

 cure as nearly as possible uniform grazing over the range. Local 

 overgrazing around watering places, bedding grounds, salting 

 grounds, and other places where stock naturally congregate must 

 be prevented ; where it can not be prevented, it should be limited to 

 small areas. Otherwise, the damage from this source will offset, or 

 more than offset, the improvement from other measures. These steps 

 must precede or accompany the application of a system of deferred 

 and rotation grazing intended to promote natural reseeding. 



DEFEEEED AND EOTATION GRAZING. 



The following are some of the principles developed in investiga- 

 tions on the relation of grazing to growth and reproduction of range 

 forage plants.^ 



(1) Removal of the herbage year after year during the early part of the 

 growing season weakens the plants, delays the resumption of growth, advances 

 the time of maturity, and decreases the seed production and the fertility of the 

 seed. 



1 Sampson, Arthvir W., Natui-al Revegetation of Rang-e Lands Based upon Growth 

 Requirements and Life History of the Vegetation. U. S. Department of Agriculture, 

 Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. Ill, No. 2, pp. 93-147, Nov. 16, 1914. 



