RANGE MANAGEMENT ON THE NATIONAL FORESTS. 13 



suggestion of a method of procedure in deciding this vital and com- 

 plex question. 



On fall and winter ranges the main point is not to begin grazing 

 so long as the stock can be taken care of properly on the summer 

 range. Winter is a critical period and the forage crop the following 

 spring is uncertain. Consequently reservation of feed for winter is 

 always an advantage. 



SEASONAL GRAZING AFTER THE PERIOD OF GRAZING BEGINS. 



Established grazing periods sometimes cover spring, summer, and 

 autumn range varying perhaps as much as 5,000 feet in altitude. 

 Throughout this variation in altitude a given stage of growth of 

 the vegetation is delayed about 7 to 10 days for 1,000 feet of in- 

 crease in elevation, making a total of 35 to 50 days' difference be- 

 tween the lower and the upper limits. 



Where such range is used by sheep under herding, a definite plan 

 can be followed to adjust the time of grazing at a given altitude 

 so as to correspond approximately with the development of the vege- 

 tation. Such a plan should be worked out and followed. The control 

 of cattle, however, is usually inadequate to accomplish this desired 

 seasonal grazing. As a consequence the cattle drift to higher alti- 

 tudes before the vegetation should be grazed. Where this is the case 

 the object of establishing a grazing period is accomplished only on 

 the extreme lower altitude. The rest of the range is injured by too 

 early grazing. Sometimes this injury is out of all proportion to 

 the value of the forage secured. Open basins and ridges at the 

 heads of drainage may soon become impaired to such an extent as 

 to necessitate reduction in the number of stock or, in some cases, 

 exclusion of stock while the range is being built up. The remedy is 

 to work for a logical division into spring range, extending to about 

 July 1, and summer range, beginning about July 1, with corre- 

 sponding control of the cattle and horses. It is impossible to do 

 this at once in all cases where it. should be done; but observations, 

 adjustments, and plans should be made with this division or a simi- 

 lar one to fit the individual case in view. 



Even within these suggested divisions repeated close cropping of 

 the vegetation after the first two weeks of growth will result in 

 deterioration of the range. Care should be exercised to see that 

 grazing is uniform and not heavy during the early part of the 

 grazing period; and if the range is to be grazed to full capacity 

 a system of deferred and rotation grazing, as described under 

 " Range Reseeding," should be applied. 



The idea is sometimes advanced that too early grazing by cattle 

 will not do as much damage to a range as too early grazing by 



