18 MISC. PUBLICATION 10 9, IT. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



of animal-months of feed available during a normal season when 

 utilized to the extent that from 10 to 25 per cent of the palatable 

 vegetation is left at the end of the season. 



16. Is allowance made for feed for deer in determining the carrying 

 capacity of national-forest ranges? 



Yes. The Forest Service has greatly reduced the number of stock 

 on over 2,000,000 acres of national- forest land in game refuges and 

 elsewhere in order to provide feed for deer. 



17. Why are stock salted? 



To satisfy the natural desire that cattle have for salt, and to in- 

 sure their proper distribution on the range in order to utilize all of 

 the available feed, and to aid in controlling the stock on the range 

 allotted. 



Sheep are salted to prevent range injury and to make them easier 

 to control by satisfying their natural craving for salt. 



18. How do owners identify their stock? 



By brands, earmarks, and dewlaps on cattle, and by paint brands 

 on the wool of sheep. 



19. Are stock injurious to young tree seedlings? 



Cattle do little or no injury under normal conditions. Sheep in- 

 jure reproduction if herded too closely, if bedded in the same place 

 too long, or if driven too far without feed and water. 



20. What are the principal plants poisonous to livestock found on 

 national-forest ranges? 



Larkspur, waterhemlock, and black laurel, poisonous to cattle; 

 death camas, azalea, and lupine, poisonous to sheep. 



21. Does the Forest Service construct needed range improvements 

 on the national forests? 



Yes. The Forest Service spends thousands of dollars annually 

 in constructing range improvements, such as drift and division 

 fences, watering places, bridges, and trails. 



22. What are the main objectives in range management on the 

 national forests? 



(a) The protection and conservative use of all forest lands 

 adapted to grazing, under principles conforming to the natural 

 conditions surrounding the forage resources. 



(£>) The permanent good of the livestock industry through proper 

 care and improvement of the grazing lands, under principles con- 

 forming to the requirements of practical operation. 



(c) The protection of the settler and the established ranch owner 

 against unfair competition in the use of the range. 



AGRICULTURAL LAND 



1. How was the private land within the national forests of the 

 California region acquired? 



The bulk of it was acquired under the various public land laws 

 prior to the creation of the national forests. A little has since been 

 acquired under the mining laws and the forest homestead act — the 

 only laws now applicable to national-forest land. 



