RANGE MANAGEMENT ON THE NATIONAL FORESTS. 25 



semidesert ranges. That there is considerable difference in the quan- 

 tity of forage produced in good years and in years unfavorable to 

 plant growth, however, is certain. Estimates of grazing capacity 

 should be based as nearly as possible upon forage production in 

 average years. If this is done the occasional years of low forage pro- 

 duction can be tided over without unwarranted injury to the range. 

 If necessary, the stock can be removed a little earlier than in average 

 years. Stockmen usually will do this of their own accord. The good 

 years will serve to keep the vegetation up to standard by more vig- 

 orous growth and perhaps by natural reseeding. Surplus forage can 

 be used by allowing the stock to remain on the range longer at the 

 close of the season where weather permits. Where the grazing period 

 is long and it is obvious at an early date that there is going to be an 

 abnormally good forage crop with a surplus of forage, additional 

 stock might be accommodated for temporary grazing to rest ranges at 

 lower altitudes. The essential point is not to be led astray in grazing- 

 capacity estimates by either the low forage production in poor years 

 or the high forage production in years above the average. The small 

 surplus of forage at the close of the grazing season should not oc- 

 casion uneasiness on the part of forest officers. Slight understocking 

 is far better for both the range and the stock than overstocking, 

 however small. 



EELATIVE PALATABILITY OF FORAGE PLANTS. 



The palatability of the plant species which make up the available 

 forage on a range is an important factor in the division of range 

 between different classes of stock. Division of range, however, on the 

 large mountain areas must be along rather broad lines and not on the 

 basis of a few head. If common use is resorted to, and sheep are 

 placed on cattle range to utilize weed feed unsuited to the cattle, there 

 must be enough of this feed to accommodate a band of sheep, perhaps 

 a minimum of 1,000 under present practice in range sheep manage- 

 ment. Proportionately smaller numbers of cattle might be placed 

 on a sheep range, but they would not travel over all parts of the 

 range and use the forage unsuited to sheep. At best, then, there may 

 be, and usually will be, a portion of the least palatable forage unused. 

 The quantity will vary with the proportion and distribution of for- 

 age low in palatability. If it dominates on areas large enough to 

 warrant use by another class of stock, common use may result in 

 close utilization. If the forage of low palatability to the class of 

 stock grazing is distributed throughout the range, little use can be 

 made of it without overstocking. 



This factor in estimating grazing capacity is emphasized here as a 

 measure of precaution, because ranges have at times been reported 

 as not full^ stocked when vegetation of low palatability was left at 



