Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1916-07-07

kind ever constructed in the United
States.
On this base map the grazing types
were located by men who made q
careful survey OF each section. In ad.
dition, they took numerous notes
showing whether the vegetation was
dense or scattering, what plants went
to form the bulk Of the forage and
whether these plants were strong and
vigorous or weak. and hard pressed
by worthless plants or overgrazing
The comparative value of each type
was expressed by fraction bearing a
certain fixed relation to the number
OF acres of surface covered by the
type. BY multiplying the surface ac-
res by this fraction, the number of
forage acres" was obtained, and the
forage acre" may be taken as a def
mite statement of the amount of food
that stock can obtain from the range.
Just as In thick stand of tall, clean
trees, the lumberman can obtain a
large number of board feet Of timber
per acre, SO in thrifty. we'll stocked
piece OF range. the stockman can OBJ
tain a larger number of forage acres
per hundred surface acres. On the
other hand, in a thin, scattering
stand of timber, the logger can find
only q few board feet per acre and
the stockman can obtain only a small
number of forage acres, or a small
amount Of feed from a poorly stock
ed range.
To further facilitate description.
the area was divided into small nat
ural range units, the data for each
of which were kept separate. Com
pilations were made showing for each
section and each grazing unit, the
number Of surface acres and of for
age acres, included in each type of
range. Thus for each small piece OF
land (plots as small as ten acres are
ineludedl there is a statement of the
numbeI of surface and forage acres.
1t was easily possible to find the
number Of forage acres used by the
sheep OF COW on each alott-
ment and It was found that much
better uniformity of use can be got
ten by re-arrangement of allotment
lines, by which each owner will have
approximately the same amount of
forage per head of stock. Il should
be noted that conditions governing
The use Of the range such as steep
ness Of slope, presence Of brush and
nearnes of water, are taken into con-
sideration in changing allotment
lines and that no radical changes are
proposed but rather a gradual work
ng towards ideal range use.
The reconnaissance was eompIet-
ID during the last field season and
he Caribou reserve is now in posses
zion of complete data on the grazing
resources included within It's boun-
iaries. The maps. showing topog-
-aphy, range types. natural grazing
units and allotments, are all bound,
.ogether with tables showing acres of |
surface and amounts of forage, in a |
arge book in the supervisors office !
It Montpelier and this book Is prov
ng an object of interest to stoekmen,
ls well as a piece of equipment I'm |
use by the forest officers.
It is now possible. by referring to the |
grazing plan, to find the amount Of
'orage allotted to any permlttee and
most Of the factors governing range
Use can be determined directly from
he plan. without leaving the office. |
A factor that Is exciting much fav-
,rable comment from sheep men Who
aave looked into the matter. "a the
plan Of furnishing . map to each
1ermittee for sheep. showing the TOP
of his allotment. with the
(Canfinuad IN ,sae,a so..a..A