30 BTLLETIX 675, U. S. DEPAETMEXT OF AGRICULTURE. 
The most effective means of holding cattle and horses on the por- 
tion of the range desired, and at the same time obtaining even dis- 
tribution, are properly located salting and watering places and 
drift fences. The salting places can be located in such a way as to 
compel the animals in search of salt to.travel over the range lands 
desired. This, of course, is also true of the location of places where 
water is to be developed for live-stock purposes, though, of course, 
the latter is much more difficult to control tlian is the distribution 
of salting places. Likewise, under certain conditions, drift fences 
constructed in suitable places are the most effective means of protect- 
ing the* range from excessive grazing and undue trampling by stock. 
In the case of sheep two conditions (aside from overestimating 
the carrying capacity of the lauds) are chiefly responsible for the 
destruction of the vegetative cover, (1) bedding too long in one 
place, and (2) too close herding and the excessive use of dogs. 
Bedding sheep several nights in one place necessitates trailing to 
and from feed to such an extent as to uproot and destroy much of 
the ground cover. In addition, the bed ground itself is completely 
denuded of vegetation and years are required fully to reestablish 
the stand. 
Trailing back and forth from range to an established bed ground 
should be replaced by the " burro " or " blanket " system of herding, 
that is, camping wherever night overtakes the band. Xumerous 
sheep raisers who have abandoned the use of the regular bed ground 
would never think of going back to the practice, for the reason that 
ilie feed is infinitely better than formerly and because appreciably 
larger gains are made by the sheep. "When no regular bed ground 
is used and the sheep are given all the freedom possible consistent 
with the grazing of suitable range, the band is more content and 
easier to handle and there are less losses from poisonous plants. At 
the same time the all-important ground cover is not destroyed, pro- 
vided the " leaders " and " laagers " of the band are not excessively 
dogged and roughly handled. Often as much vegetation is de- 
stroyed through the excessive use of dogs as from overgrazing and 
subsequent run- off. 
On lands where the sum of conditions favoring floods and 
erosion — such as deficient vegetative cover, steep slopes, and the 
presence of numerous gullies of the incipient and advanced type 
exist — it is the safest, plan to undergraze rather than utilize the 
herbage so closely as possibly to injure the existing vegetation. In 
general, greater injury is done on such lands by trampling than by 
actual grazing; consequently, unless the range is excessively rough 
and irregular, it is often a distinct advantage to graze the lands by 
cattle rather than by sheep. 
