32. MISC. PUBLICATION 290, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
(3) Artificial-reseeding investigations, which aim to determine what 
native species justify selection for improvement, the possibilities for 
the adaptation of native and introduced species to seeding or trans- 
planting, and to determine how these plants can be most economically 
reproduced and established on range lands under the varying condi- 
tions of climate, soil, and range-forage depletion. 
EXPERIMENTAL AREAS 
Certain areas, most of which are within the national forests, have 
been designated as experimental forests. Other areas containing range 
types have been similarly designated as experimental ranges. These 
$s F-220727 
FIGURE 25.—These sheep are grazing quietly and well distributed with ample forage, 
illustrating good range management. Improved methods of range management are 
developed by research. 
areas have been set aside as outdoor laboratories on which much of the 
research in forest and range management and in watershed protection 
1s carried out. These experimental areas, of which there are several in 
each region, are under the general supervision of the forest experiment 
stations. 
The Forest Service has also set aside a series of areas which have 
been designated as natural areas. The purpose of these is to illus- 
trate or typify virgin conditions of forest or range cover. ‘They 
are to be maintained in an unmodified condition for research, his- 
torical interest, and education. Within the natural areas and also in 
the experimental forests and ranges, public use is carefully regulated, 
being hmited to educational institutions for research or educational 
purposes. On the experimental forests and ranges the cutting of 
timber, the grazing of cattle, and other forms of use are permitted 
only to the extent that they are part of the research plans for the 
areas. 
