70 BULLETIN 790, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



If the range is used by the class of stock to wliicli it is best suited, 

 and the grazing and management of stock so regulated that range 

 deterioration is avoided, the general damage to tree reproduction 

 from grazing "will not be a cause for worry, and the benefits from 

 grazing, by a reduction of the fire hazard, will offset to a consider- 

 able extent the slight damage which may be done. 



Perhaps there will always be special cases of reproducing cut- 

 over areas, reproducing burned areas, plantations, and areas of spe- 

 cial importance in standing timber, where special restrictions in graz- 

 ing management will be necessary. Such areas are small compared 

 with the total acreage of National Forest range. The difficult prob- 

 lem in such cases is to control the stock and apply the method of 

 management needed without restricting grazing on other areas which 

 might well be grazed. The solution will have to be worked out for 

 the individual case by reduction in number of stock, change in class 

 of stock, fencing to control or exclude stock, herding, water develop- 

 ment, and proper salting. 



WATERSHED PROTECTION. 



One primary purpose of the National Forests is to preserve the 

 cover which regulates the flow of streams. Cover in this sense in- 

 cludes the tree cover, the herbaceous and shrubby cover, and the 

 surface soil with its clecaj^ed and decajdng vegetable matter. This 

 understanding of cover in relation to the regulation of stream flow 

 is imperative in the management of grazing on the lands within the 

 National Forests. 



In open-stand forests the herbaceous and shrubby cover and the 

 condition of the surface soil may be important factors controlling 

 run-off. T\liere this cover is dense or comparatively dense, there 

 will be little danger from grazing the forage as closely as it may 

 be grazed and forage production maintained year after year. 

 Where the herbaceous cover Consists of a thin stand of bunch 

 grasses and a few weeds, erosion and too rapid run-off may occur, 

 even if the lands are not grazed. Light grazing under such condi- 

 tions will probably not interfere with the regulation of stream flow ; 

 for there will not be enough trampling to pack the soil, there will be 

 a slight hicrease in fertility from manure, and the stock will carry 

 in seed to improve the stand of vegetation. Grazing that fully 

 utilizes the forage on such areas, however, may result in packing the 

 soil and decreasing its power of absorbing and holding precipitation. 

 The conditions vary. No definite rule can be laid down, except that 

 overgrazing must be avoided, even on small areas. If use is to be 

 continued, the man on the gTound must watch the results closely and 

 adjust the management accordingly. 



