IMPORTANT RANGE PLANTS. " 57 



duce a small amount of viable seed, while those which have not been 

 injured send up their flower stalks early, mature the seed crop before 

 killing frosts occur in the autumn, and produce fertile seed. 



The data compiled relative to the life-history performances of the 

 different forage species have made possible the adoption of what is 

 known as the "deferred or rotation grazing system." This system 

 provides for the deferment of grazing on an allotment until the seed 

 crop has matured — the size of the area to be protected depending, of 

 course, upon the time at which the bulk of the seed crop ripens. 

 Subsequent to complete revegetation, the area is grazed relatively 

 early, thereby providing for the protection of a similar area elsewhere 

 on the allotment without in any way jeopardizing the grazing inter- 

 ests or by wasting any part of the annual forage crop during the time 

 required for revegetation. When the entire allotment has been 

 thoroughly restocked, each portion, subdivision or camp is restricted 

 from grazing but once in every three or four years, thus allowing the 

 plants to maintain a maximum vigor and to provide an occasional 

 seed crop, which is essential to the maintenance of a permanent 

 stand. 



The details essential to revegetation by means of deferred and 

 rotation grazing have been given in previous publications. 

 85154°— Bull. 545—17 8 



