g Miscellaneous Circular 48, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture 



was not unusual, and range wars were common. The cattleman 

 looked askance at the sheepman, for sheep were considered 

 a menace to cattle range. As the country became settled and 

 other industries developed, the livestock owner found it increas- 

 ingly hard to obtain sufficient range for his needs. Overgrazing 

 was the result. The valuable forage plants gradually disappeared 

 and plants which livestock do not eat came in to take their place. 

 The carrying capacity of the range was thus greatly diminished. 



With the creation of the national forests, a large amount of 

 range which was intermixed with timber stands came under the ad- 

 ministration of the Forest Service. Nearly all this range was al- 

 ready being used and much of it was undergoing depletion through 

 overgrazing. Thus restoration and maintenance of the ranges at 

 once became an object of Forest Service administration. In addi- 

 tion the task of developing unused and undergrazed ranges was 

 undertaken. 



Fig. 6. — All resources of the national forests are for use. Fine grazing lands occur 

 near the upper limits of timber growth 



Better use of the range has gradually come into practice, and 

 steady progress has been made toward really scientific management. 

 The condition of the ranges has improved, and the forests are at 

 the same time carrying more stock than under the old conditions. 

 This has been accomplished with the cooperation of the stockmen. 

 An equitable division of the range between sheepmen and cattlemen, 

 and between individual owners, has come about, and range wars no 

 longer occur. (Fig. 6.) 



The first three essentials in scientific range management are (1) 

 limitation of the grazing season to prevent injury through too early 

 or too prolonged use; (2) regulation of the number and class of 

 livestock to fit the carrying capacity; and (3) methods of handling 

 to prevent concentration and overuse of portions of the range, with 

 failure to utilize the range elsewhere. As these principles are 

 worked out and applied, the ranges will be still further improved. 



This is in striking contrast with what is happening on the public 

 ranges outside the national forests. These outside ranges are gener- 



