72 



DRY-FARMING CONGRESS, WICHITA, 1914 



to have in mind the extent, character and importance of the forage re- 

 sources involved. 



The gross area of National Forest lands, exclusive of Alaska, on June 

 30, 1914, was approximately 158% million acres. Of this area 70 percent 

 to 75 percent is suitable for the pasturage of livestock at some time of the 

 year. 



Primarily, it is range within timbered or brush lands with a minor 

 acreage of untimbered lands, made up of exposed slopes of otherwise 

 timbered mountains, small mountain meadows, areas of grass land above 

 timber line, cut-over and burned-over areas, all of which produce forage 

 which is used, or may be used for cattle, horses, sheep, goats or swine. 



Distributed as the land areas are throughout the West, from the Mex- 

 ican line to the Canadian line, varying in altitude from near sea level to 

 the upper limits at which vegetation will grow, and varying in ruggedness 

 from level to inaccessible, they present a wide variation in length and time 

 of growing season, moisture conditions, soil conditions and a consequent 

 wide variation in the composition of the forage crop, even on areas of the 

 same range type located in different sections of the National Forest region. 



When the forests were placed under the jurisdiction of the Forest 

 Service, nine years ago, it was realized at once that this forage resource 

 represented a valuable asset upon which not only the welfare of the stock 

 industry, but of a large portion of the people was dependent, and steps 

 were taken to work out a plan which would develop it and promote its 

 use to the fullest extent consistent with good forest management. The 

 net result is that in 1914, permits were issued allowing 1,616,880 cattle and 

 horses, 7,560,186 sheep, 58,616 goats and 3,381 swine to graze - on lands 

 within the forests and at the same time adequate protection is given to the 

 forests, watersheds, camping grounds and other uses for which these lands 

 are valuable. 



The first step was to open to use many areas previously unused and 

 to authorize full use instead of restricted use of much additional territory. 

 Primarily, as a result of this policy the gross acreage of the average 

 grazing unit (range for one cow) was reduced one-third during the years 

 1905 to 1907, inclusive. Then followed the real work of constructive man- 

 agement. A large proportion of the more choice grazing lands added to 

 the forests, had previously been badly overgrazed as a result of over- 

 stocking, premature grazing and bad methods, or lack of methods, or 

 handling the stock. It was evident that a material reduction in the number 

 of stock must be made before damage to forests and watersheds could be 

 checked and the foundation laid for improvement in the range. Nine years 

 of experience in managing all varieties of impoverished range has further 

 convinced the Forest Service that every year of delay in limiting the num- 

 ber of stock to what the range, in its existing condition, will properly sup- 

 port, adds to the difficulty and time necessary in building it up. 



By cooperation with stockmen in developing and opening up new areas, 

 shifting stock to less heavily used areas, and, when these methods were 



