38 BULLETIN 790, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



feet increase in altitude and that there is considerable variation in 

 the time when growth begins on different exposures at the same alti- 

 tude. By carefully planning a schedule showing the date salt should 

 be put out at each salting place, much can be accomplished in adjust- 

 ing the time of grazing to conform to the requirements of the vegeta- 

 tion. The earlier range should be salted first, and salting at higher 

 altitudes delayed in proportion to the delay in growth of the vegeta- 

 tion, To secure the best results, salt remaining at the lower altitudes 

 when the range is fed out should be removed. Otherwise some of the 

 cattle will remain near this salt and overgraze the range. Timely 

 salting is facilitated by numbering the salting grounds to conform 

 to the time the range should be used, beginning with number one at 

 the earliest salt ground. A written salting schedule can then be pre- 

 pared, dividing the season into periods by days, weeks, or months, 

 and designating by numbers the salting places to be used during 

 each period and the amount of salt for each place. 



It is important that salt be placed on the range when the stock 

 are put on. Care at this time to separate the cattle into small bunches 

 and distribute them among the salting places over the range ready for 

 use will do much to get the stock settled and secure uniform grazing. 



Hauling and storing salt. — Roads and trails are usually in good 

 condition late in the fall, but difficult to pass over, if not impassable, 

 at the time the stock are put on the range in spring. Where this is 

 the case sufficient salt to last at least until roads and trails are in 

 good condition the next spring should be hauled in the fall and 

 stored convenient to the range. This practice has been followed 

 by some stockmen and stock associations. It should be adopted 

 wherever local conditions make the practice advisable. Salt is most 

 needed by stock early in the grazing season, and failure to provide 

 it because roads are impassable at that time is not a valid excuse. 

 Small cabins or salt-storage boxes can be provided without unwar- 

 ranted expense. 



RESULTS FROM PROPER SALTING. 



A good example of what can be accomplished by proper salting 

 of the range is afforded by results secured on a cattle range on the 

 Minam National Forest in Oregon. 



The cattle and horse unit in question includes about 40,000 acres 

 of timber and open range. In 1913 it was grazed by 1,571: head of 

 cattle and horses. The stock were salted at three or four places. 

 Part of the range was overgrazed at the close of the season, and 

 much feed was unused on other parts. The upper portion was 

 little grazed by cattle. In 1911 the stockmen became interested in 

 better methods of salting. Forty-four salt troughs were constructed, 

 at a cost of $1.25 each, from logs 18 inches to 24 inches in diameter. 



