EFFECT OF GRAZING ON WESTERN YELLOW PINE. 15 



According to this table the ratio between the severe damage caused 

 by cattle and that caused by sheep is approximately as 1 to 7.7. 

 Striking variations from this ratio may be noted on the normally 

 grazed areas and on the bunchgrass range. Over these portions of 

 the type the damage caused by sheep is far out of proportion to that 

 caused by cattle. On the other hand, in flats, around camps, and 

 near water and salt licks the damage caused by each class of stock 

 is about the same. On areas representative of the rest of the yellow- 

 pine type the ratio of damage caused by cattle as compared with that 

 caused by sheep approximates the average ratio of 1 to 7.7. This 

 ratio is thought to be fair to the sheep. The proportion of reproduc- 

 tion severely damaged by both sheep and cattle is approximately 10 

 per cent. While this is not so high as the figure estimated for the 

 half of the yellow-pine type under observation, which, according to 

 Table I, amounts to 16.7 per cent, yet it is probably more nearly 

 representative of the yellow-pine type as a whole. 



The foregoing data point to the conclusion that stock do not eat 

 yellow-pine reproduction through preference ; that where the palatable 

 forage is sufficient, reproduction will not suffer seriously from graz- 

 ing; but that, on the other hand, where the palatable feed is not 

 sufficient for the class of stock using the range, yellow -pine repro- 

 duction is likely to be seriously damaged. 



METHODS ,OF HANDLING. 



From the conclusions reached under the preceding heading it is 

 plain that the way stock are handled on the range has a most im- 

 portant bearing on the amount of damage that is done to reproduc- 

 tion. It has been pointed out, for example, that on bunchgrass 

 range, which, under the methods of handling stock on unfenced 

 range, at least is poorly suited to sheep grazing, this class of stock 

 is likely to injure one-third of the stand of reproduction, as com- 

 pared with an injury of 10 per cent of the stand on range well suited 

 for sheep grazing and that the injury on an overgrazed range 

 varies from three times the amount of damage on a normally stocked 

 range to total destruction of the reproduction. 



Further evidence as to the relation between the handling of stock 

 and the amount of damage to reproduction is brought out by a study 

 of the damage on areas where stock congregate. 



Rubbing by cattle. — Over the Forest, as a whole, the principal 

 damage caused by cattle is by rubbing. This damage is serious where 

 cattle are accustomed to congregate, principally at the edges of parks, 

 in alluvial flats, along drainage lines, and in the vicinity of watering- 

 places, corrals, and salt licks. 



