74 Our Field and Forest Trees 



have it listed, settle upon it, and end his days 

 there. But he must obey the law, and use the 

 land for a home. 



A prospector is free to look for metals and min- 

 erals in a national forest. If his search prove 

 successful, he may stake and record and develop 

 as many claims as he chooses, subject to the same 

 laws which regulate mining claims on public lands 

 outside the forest boundaries. Indeed, the forest 

 helps the miner instead of hindering him. It gives 

 him free timber for his mine and for his buildings. 



The national forests of the Rocky Mountain 

 region are summer grazing grounds or ranges for 

 thousands of cattle. In autumn, when snow comes 

 to cover the mountain grass, the cattle drift or 

 are driven downward to the warmer valleys, where 

 summer has brought the buffalo grass of the win- 

 ter ranges to ripeness. 



A cattle man pays so much a head for grazing 

 privileges to the United States Department of 

 Forestry. If cattle were not permitted to feed In 

 the national forests of the West during part of 

 the year, there would not be enough food for them 

 In that " land of little rain," and hence the stock 

 Industry of the West would suffer. 



Each national forest has what Is called its 

 " allotment of stock " — that Is to say, only a 

 certain number of grazing animals may be let 

 loose in It. When the cattle or sheep are thus 

 kept down in number they are a real protection 



