6 BULLETIN 790, IJ. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



PKOTECTTON OF TIMBER GROWTH AND WATERSHEDS. 



Experience and investigation have shown that, generally, grazing 

 within certain limits, properly managed, does not interfere to an 

 unwarranted degree with the protection, development, and conserva- 

 tive use of the forests and watersheds. They have made it equally 

 evident, however, that grazing management must receive special con- 

 sideration on certain forest lands and on certain watersheds. These 

 important cases usually will be given special study and consideration 

 after the general division of range between different classes of stock 

 has been made. Specific suggestions for the handling of such cases 

 are given under the heading, " Grazing and protection of timber/' 



In apportioning range among different classes of stock it is im- 

 portant to keep in mind : 



1. That where the intensity of the grazing is the same sheep graze 

 young growth of more timber species than do cattle, and that they 

 cause greater injury to young growth, and, in general, to watersheds, 

 though on steep slopes with loose soil cattle grazing may be more 

 destructive to the watershed than sheep grazing. 



2. That injury to tree growth by cattle and horses is negligible if 

 overgrazing and bad management of stock are avoided. 



3. That injury to tree growth by sheep depends greatly upon the 

 character of the forage, increasing as the proportion of forage not 

 suited to sheep increases, and that timber reproduction on dry grass 

 ranges or other ranges where there is little succulent weed growth or 

 browse suitable to sheep is especially subject to injury by sheep graz- 

 ing if the forage is fully used. 



4. That sheep in herds on steep slopes where the soil is loose may 

 trample out tree seedlings to an appreciable extent. 



Aside from these special points the main features of importance 

 are to see that seasons of grazing are properly adjusted, overgrazing 

 avoided, and the stock properly handled. These features need be 

 considered in the division of range only to the extent of deciding 

 whether the desired management of the range and stock in question 

 is practicable. 1 



LAMBING RANGE. 



For areas used by sheep during the lambing period at least two 

 requirements are necessary : Ample green feed suited to sheep, so that 

 the ewes will produce sufficient milk for the lambs, and an altitude low 

 enough not to be subject to severe wet storms during the lambing 

 period. Such storms occur occasionally on any lambing range, but at 

 high altitudes they are frequent at lambing time and the weather 

 generally is cold and wet. A good lambing range should have natu- 

 ral protection from storms. This is afforded by brokea topography 



1 The selection of goat ranges is a special problem and does not enter as a major 

 problem into division of ranges in general. 



