FOREST AND RANGE RESOURCES OF UTAH 35 



Plants ordinarily produce many more seeds than are necessary to 

 reproduce themselves. This is fortunate, because a large number 

 of seeds do not fall in places suitable for germination and growth, 

 and also because under proper management, plants can be grazed 

 before seed maturity and still produce a sufficiently large seed crop. 

 Far too often, however, ranges are so heavily stocked or so im- 

 properly handled that too many of the flowers and seed stalks are 

 eaten, a sufficiently large seed crop is not produced, and the ranges 

 deteriorate constantly. 



Even after a good seed crop is produced, or conditions have 

 favored a good propagation by root stalks and suckers, the work of 

 reproduction is only half completed. The young plants are weak 

 and very susceptible to injury. They need protection until they 

 can become established. Generally, of course, if stocking and man- 



Figure 15. — Aspeu reproduction spreading on a properly managed range 



agement are such that a good seed crop can be produced, the young 

 plants will thrive. 



Through considerable experimentation and much study under 

 actual range conditions, both by the stockmen themselves and by 

 special range investigators, it has been demonstrated that ranges 

 can be effectively reseeded while being fully grazed. This is ac- 

 complished by protecting a portion of the range from grazing until 

 the seeds are mature. In modern practice a grazing allotment is 

 divided into several areas, usually three or four. The grazing is 

 deferred on one of the divisions until the time of seed maturity. 

 Thus the area is well seeded. After the seeds are mature the live- 

 stock are allowed to graze the plants and in so doing they not only 

 utilize the forage, but also shake the seeds from the plants and help, 

 more or less, by trampling the seeds into the ground. (Fig. 16.) 



Sometimes a division of the allotment is deferred two or more 

 years in succession so the young seedlings will get a good start before 

 they are grazed or trampled. After a division has been deferred 



