The silver state news. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1907-1909, 1907-09-05
RESEEDlNC RANGES
WITH NATIVE
GRASS
+.

The livestock industry turns to ac-
count one of the greatest natural re-
sources of the west-the forage crop.
From the plains to the Pacific an
astonishingly large proportion OF the
area is grazing land. 1t is estimated
that this region contains over 40O,
O00, 900 acres which are useful at pres
ent only for pasturing stock. A map
printed in colors to bring out the main
areas of agricultural, grazing and des-
ert lands was published not long ago.
1t showed the grazing land color
spread like a sheet over nearly all this
vast domain, which comprises some
thing like one-third of the United
States, with relatively minor patches
of the other colors. In arid regions
the range is comparatively poor, but
almost everywhere enough forage
plants can grow to make grazing prof
liable.
The forest service, in co operation
with the bureau of plant industry, has
begun a series of experiments to find
out how the carrying power of grazing
lands within national forests can be
increased. In a nutshell, the problems
are, first, how to grow, and second,
how to utilize, the large amount of
forage. The conclusions reached are
likely to have an important bearing
on improved use of the open range
generally. The economic possibilities
of these experiments areof these ex-
periments are enormous.
In the past the stockman ON the
public lands has simply taken what
nature offered him. But grazing
tends to put nature at a disadvantage.
Plants which propagate by seed, for
example, have no chance when the
seed stalks are being eaten off all the
time. In many grazing regions the
carrying power of the range has been
very greatly reduced through the pres
ent methods of use. Within national
forests the restriction of the number
of stock to the capacity of the range
has already checked the worst evils
which result from liver grazing. But
the new Investigations promise much
greater things.
These Investigations are to be car
ried out along three distincet lines
studies of what can be done nj the
way of introducing cultivated grass
es, studies of range improvement
through better knowledge of how Wild
hoLw to handle both cattle and sheep
ing and trampling. The present ac-
count deals with the first, the intro
duction of cultivated grass.
The man in charge of these studies
is Mr.. Frederick V. Coville, of the
bureau of plant industry, who is an
expert in matters connected with the
use of the range. Mr.. Coville mad
a careful study of grazing problems in
the Cascade mountains of Oregon for
the department of the interior ten
years ago., and contributed to the dis
cussion of grazing questions which
formed part of the upblic lands com
mission report in 1905. 1t was on his
recommendation that the laboratory
for desert botanical research was es-
tablished by the Carnegie Institute OF
Washington at Tucson, Arizona. He
is, therefore, very well prepared for
this work, which, to be successful,
must be run on thoroughly practical
lines.
The experiments will begin in Wal
Iowa count, in northeastern Oregon,
in the Imnaha national forest. Here
at different attitudes a number OF
moist natural meadows have been
picked out. Those having the great
est altitude are 10000 feet or more
above the sea, where in early June
the snow still covers the ground, al
though rapidly melting under the sum
mer sun. The lowest meadows are
about 5000 feet above sea level.
The purpose of these wet-meadow
experiments is improvement OF the
summer range. Stock do not winter
in the mountains, but are diven grad
ually higher and higher as the advanc'
ing season calls forth the vegetation
on which they feed. The winter rang
es on the plains, supplemented largely
by the hay, alfalfa and other feeo
crops which the ranches produce, De
pend for their utilization upon tins
summer p~asturage, to which the stocS
can be driven when the dry season
sets in. If means can be found to
improve the summer range the benefi'
will be felt from Canada to Arizona
and New Mexico, SO that the experi
ments are of broad Importance.
In the higher parts of the lmnaha
national forest good late summer pas
ture for sheep is valuable. Snow Gov
ers the ground nine months of the
year, and the grass that grows must
grow quickly. The natural pasture on
the high mountain meadows is Iairiy
good, bat there il room for improve
ment. The native bluegrass does mol
produce a sod, but grows in bunches
A sond or turf ia wanted. and some OF