THE RESEEDING OF DEPLETED GRAZING LANDS. 27 



The other items of expense are transportation, scattering the seed, 

 and soil treatment. The first of these varies so widely, according to 

 the means of transportation, distance, cost of labor, and horse rental, 

 that no figures can be given. Where pack animals must be employed 

 the cost is necessarily higher than if a wagon can be used ; and where 

 the stockman does the work the cash outlay is materially lessened, 

 since, by owning his own work animals, wagons, etc., a high rental 

 is eliminated, and in many cases work of this character can be done 

 when other labor is not urgent. In the Wallowa experiments the 

 seed was transported on the backs of pack animals for a distance of 

 about 25 miles at an approximate cost of $2 per hundred pounds. 

 (See PL VIII, fig. 1.) This cost is figured on the basis of $2.50 for 

 the day wage of a man and $1 for horse rental. 



With the use of a hand seeder a man can sow 25 acres per day, 

 provided the area is in one tract. This makes a cost of 10 cents per 

 acre. Hand sowing is considerably cheaper if an experienced man is 

 available, but it is extremely difficult to get in this way an even dis- 

 tribution of light seed, like redtop and Kentucky blue grass. 



If the seed is trampled in by sheep no expense is incurred. Brush- 

 ing can be done at a cost of 25 cents per acre. 



SEEDING TO A MIXTURE. 



With species like Kentucky blue grass, the seed of which costs 20 

 cents per pound and which requires 20 pounds to the acre for a full 

 stand, the cost makes extensive seeding prohibitive, except possibly 

 under the very best soil and growth conditions. It is often a matter 

 of economy to sow such seed in mixture with one or two of the less 

 costly species. For example, a mixture of 9 pounds of Kentucky 

 blue grass and 4 pounds of timothy per acre, which is sufficient seed 

 to produce a full stand, will cost approximately half that of a pure 

 seeding of 20 pounds of Kentucky blue grass. For range purposes 

 generally, even though good returns may be expected, it is not deemed 

 advisable to expend much over $2 per acre for seed and planting. 

 Where growth conditions are favorable the original stand is sure to 

 increase if the lands are not grazed too early and closely each year, 

 and eventually the maximum carrying capacity of the land in ques- 

 tion will be secured at a relatively low expense if the $2 per acre 

 limit is adhered to. 



Aside from the question of cost, it is sometimes expedient to seed to 

 a mixture because of uncertainty as to what species a given meadow 

 is best adapted, or because with a proper selection the grazing period 

 may be lengthened and at the same time a variety of feed afforded. 

 As a concrete example, where Kentucky blue grass, timothy, and 

 redtop are seeded in mixture and each becomes established, the Ken- 

 tucky blue grass is the first in the spring to produce a forage crop. 



