132 BULLETIN 1105, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



solution of this problem lies in Government ownership of range 

 improvements. 



It is possible that a less drastic solution may be found by substi- 

 tuting better range management for exclusion of sheep. This 

 would obviate, to a great extent at least, the complications due to 

 private ownership of range improvements. Investigations show 

 that damage is intensified by failure to observe certain funda- 

 mental principles now commonly recognized by both stockmen and 

 forest officers. Hill (11) states that, "under proper grazing man- 

 agement, reproduction does not suffer an unwarranted amount of 

 damage." Proper grazing management involves adjusting the num- 

 ber and class of stock grazed to the amount and kind of forage 

 suitable to the class or classes of stock, and thus providing ade- 

 quate, palatable forage suitable for each class of stock available at 

 all times, proper seasonal use, and proper handling of the stock 

 on the range. Strict application of these principles would un- 

 doubtedly bring about great improvement. Until grazing manage- 

 ment has been more fully tested with reference to reproduction, 

 however, there is grave danger in assuming that it will solve the 

 problem of sheep damage. Its effectiveness and practicability must 

 be demonstrated before it can be accepted as a substitute for sheep 

 exclusion. In order to meet the test, range management must show 

 that it will secure satisfactory reproduction, originating after man- 

 agement is instituted, within a period not exceeding by more than 

 25 per cent the period required where sheep are excluded. The 

 principal types of range and forest conditions should be covered. 

 It must be shown that success is not dependent primarily upon 

 extraordinary conditions of climate and seed production, which 

 can not usually be expected within an ordinary reproduction period 

 of 20 to 25 years. It is doubtful whether grazing management 

 can meet the above requirements on cut-over lands devoid of ad- 

 vance reproduction, because under average conditions such lands 

 will restock very slowly even when undisturbed by grazing, and 

 the injury of as few as 10 per cent of the seedlings annually may 

 preclude success. This is the type of land which is now demanding 

 attention on the Coconino and Tusayan National Forests. By in- 

 stituting proper grazing management at least 10 years before cut- 

 ting, thus taking advantage of the heavy seed crops in virgin stands, 

 the chances of success are greatly enhanced. As at least 10 years 

 will be required to secure results, carefully controlled experiments 

 to determine the practical possibilities of range management should 

 be instituted without delay. In the meantime, silvicultural prac- 

 tice must proceed on the assumption that exclusion of sheep during 

 the reproduction period is necessary. 



