The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1911-12-19


F.NRrsl Woolgrowers Association a
ussa today, as follows:
R9ss4I@ing the importance OF tn
l@st@eE Industry To the general we
t.is of the west, the forest service
FROM ,Ae beginning Of its administra
zion al the National Forests, adopte,
~ constructive policy for dealing Will
s.Tazitg problems. Most Of the noun
ak raoses which have been in
Eude6 in the National Forests ha,
be o. occupied by the flockmasteri
iiong sscoae the forests were created
with the demand for summer range IL
many localities greater than the sup
ll,y, Ia ere had followed overgrazinl
had serious damage with absolute
waste of large portion of the for
sSge crop was taking place. Many ran
sses were fast deteriorating. though
carrying no more stock than could
ess permanently sustained under pro
pssr regulation.
The first thing was to check the
tSsJnage and waste with the least
l,,assible curtailment of grazing priv
iSeges. Such divisions of the range
we're made as would secure the use
~ each portion by the kind of stock
10 which was best adapted and
give earh group of owners, so far
as possible, the use OF the range up.
ON which they had customarily grazed
fheir stock. Then II was decided what
portions should be used only during
ahe summer, what ones during the
Winter, spring or fall, and what por-
aions during the entire year, with the
dates at which the grazing season
should begin and close in normal sea
sons.
These measures did much towards
stopping waste Of surplus forage aud
showing that better methods we're
worth while. Attention was next Civ
en Go extending the area of available !
range through encouraging the de
gelopment Of watering places and
opening trails to make accessible nm
used ranges Unfortunately 1t has
been necessary TO make quite heavy I
reductions on some forests tn enable |
0vergraZsd ranges to rccupcrato. bui /
such reductions have been made grad |
ually in order not 10 cause undue !
business disturbance. The increased |
number Of stock, however provided !
for on other ranges has nearly offset
the reductions. They were gra2ed ON
the forests this last year l.4I2,oO0
cattle and hurs aud 145",uon sheen |
and goats
The collective grazing capacity OF |
the National Forest is nov on the in
crease. Energetic efforts have been
made by the Forest Service to pro
mote the utilization Of surplus ior
age which now goes to waste in |
northern Washington, Idaho and
Montana. The removal of the forage
crop in a proper way greatly reduces
she fire damage.
II grazing is too close, however, the
reproduction of the forest is inter
Tered with. Many Understand owners
are willing TO offer grazing privileges
ispon extremely favorable terms be-
cause they are not planning to grow
smother crop OF trees. Replanted
areas must be closed against grazing
for a few years, and where reproduc-
lion is difficult cut-over areas Just be
protected, by reducing II not exclud-
ing the stock, until the young trees
are ON of danger from trampling or
Ilibblins. Since, however, the area
,:utoyer and that replanted each year
2orm combined, less than one per
S)ent of the total area Of the forests.
- involved
Careful Investigations OF the dam.
age done young trees by stock in the
southwest showed over twenty per
cent of the seedlings and young trees
seriously injured, and in some cases
On ranges used extensively by sheep
over fifty per cent, but the most
damage was done when feed was
scarce and was therefore largely due
70 oPersra2ing The immediate and
urgent problem which now confronts
ms Is the development of the ranges
70 the highest possible state OF pro,
Tiuctiyity
Thc gradual increase of the carry
tng power of the ranges will be
Drought about through improved
methods of handling stock and Of
growing the forage crop. A careful
study Is under way Ia ascertain the
character OF All land within the for
,ssts, the kind of stock 90 which eacl
Natural grazing unit is adapted, TIT