The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-03-08
OLD GRAZING
LANDS MADE NEW

ne rich grazing lands Of the West
are being seriously damaged by ex-
cesslve and unrestrained use A band
OF sheep in grazing destroys much
more grass by trampling than 1t eats,
and constant overgrazing has ruined
thousands of acres OF the best grass
lands. The effects of unrestricted or
lll-dlrected grazing not only lessen
production of forage for one or two
seasons. but the carrying capacity of
the range is permanently impaired.
worn out acres quickly spring up TO
Worthless or noxious growths which
spread and supercede the natural
range cover. Large areas are some
times SO bared by destructive over
grazing that they become practically
barren wastes.
The Forest Service and the Bu-
reau of Plant Industry. of the U. S.
Department Of Agriculture, have CO.
operated In a series OF experiments
looking toward the artificial reseeding
OF portions Of grazing lands with cul-
tfvated grasses. and studios are being
carried on to find out how overgrazed
areas can be reseeded naturally, and
how the carrying capacity of the range
can be increased through modif1ca
tions OF the present methods Of han
ding stock. Much Of the grazing land
included In the National Forests was
comparatively unproductive as a re-
suit Of unrestricted grazing before
II came under Forest Service control
Since that time 1t Is estimated that
the efficiency of these lands has been
increased 30 per cent merely by the
prevention Of misuse. This represents
but the beginning Of the good which
Will result from the experiments and
studies already started.
The Wallowa (formerly the Imna-
ha) National Forest. In eastern Ore
gon. was chosen for the first expert
ments. because 1t afforded prime test
conditions and was In need OF early
attention. This forest contains about
$4,000 acres, OF which approximately
100000 acres, because Of Its Irregular,
broken surface. are given owed to
sheep grazing. The balance Is used
for the grazing Of cattle. Owing to
the wide range of altitude and OF to-
biography. the grazing areas are nat
urally divided into number Of rath
er distinct zones OF vegetation. and
each presents problems Of its own.
Because OF these conditions the re-
suits Of this experimental work should
prove extremely valuable to stockmen
in many sections, presenting as they
do solutions. so far as the work has
progressed at this time, Of many
range problems.
The object of tho initial expert
ments has been TO bring about the
natural reseedlng Of range areas with
out Withdrawing them, except tenn
po-arily. from use. This involves
studies OF the towering and maturity
of range plants, the termination OF
seeds, and the destructive effect OF
trampling by stock.
The results OF the first OF these
studies snd experiments are contain
ed In a preliminary report entitled
"The Revegetation OF OvergraZed
Range Areas" Issued by tho Forest
Service as Circular 15S. Copies may
be had by persons interested on appli-
cation to the Forest Service. u. S.
Department of Agriculture, Washing.
ton, d. c.
In addition TO the above preliminary
report, there has previously been is
sued by the Forest Service progress
report on another phase of these In
vestigations. namely. an experiment
In coyote proof pastures, published as
Circular 15G. which may be obtained
on application TO the Forest Service.