The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1917-12-25
PAGE SEVEN
BIG DEMAND FOR
FOREST RANGES

A continued increase In the de-
mand for permits to Craze livestock
on the National Forests and the nee
essity OF going ahead with the work
of developing the Forest ranges to
the utmost are emphasized by Acting
Forester A. F. Potter in the Annual
Report OF the Forest Service. The
settlement of the public domain
brings new applicants for grazing
privileges with each succeeding sea-
son, while the continued high prices
received for meat, wool, and hides
are an incentive for the older per-
mittees to endeavor to increase their
numbers.
New permits for an increased
number of animals and an advance
in the grazing fees made during the
year brought the total receipts from
grazing up to $1,549,O00."
The winter season of 1861 was
the most disastrous the range stock
men of the West have known, Mr.
Potter states. There have been
years when the local losses were
| heavier, but never when the losses
were so general in every range state
As a result of continued severe wea-
Their throughout the winter months
and scarcity of hay, which was hard
to get at any price. stockmen suf-
fered severe losses. The lamp crop
for the entire West was probably Is
to 20 per cent below the average
Of the shortage OF feed on the open
range, the National Forests were op-
ened to grazing in advance Of the
regular season, and several hundred
thousand sheep and cattle were ad-
mitted to the Forest ranges.
The number Of cattle on the -
ests the past season was nearly 2So.-
900 greater than in 1915, and the
number of sheep more than 100000
greater. This increase, 1t is stated.
was due to a more intimate knowl-
edge Of the forage growth and the
carrying capacity of the range. and
to efforts made to increase produc-
ton Of livestock to meet the emer-
gency food needs of the country.
About 100000 acres were exam
ined by the grazing experts of the
Service during the year. The infor-
nation gained will, the report says.
aid in raising the number Of live
stock on the ranges to the maximum
, without excessive damage. Light
grazing for three years has resulted
in excellent recuperation of large
area of grania grass range on the
tornado Range Reserve. On the
high mountain lands Of the Manic
National Forest in Utah, 1t was found
that erosion and decrease in soil fer
tility following over grazing materi-
ally lengthen the period necessary
for the grass to come back.
A study of the methods Of herding
goats has resulted in an Improvement
in the handling Of these animals on
the range. On the Jornada Range
Reserve a calf crop fully 10 per cent
above the average was saved from a
breeding herd held on fenced range
under improved methods and given
a small amount of supplemental feed
From another herd, fed an average
of so pounds of cottonseed cake pei
head and given still better care, the
calf crop exceeded the average by
more than 20 per cent.
On some of the Utah, Montana ant
California Forests tests were mad,
which further demonstrated the ad
vantages Of the bedding out" sys
TEN of handling sheep over the ole
( method of close herding with dogs
Advance was made In the method
of sailing cattle and in showing tn,
value of we'll distributed watering
places. On a number of Forests dem
Onstration tests were made Of eradi
cation of the poisonous tall larkspur
In every vase. the report states. tn
losses from poisoning were reduce
to an extent which more than just
fled the cost. Minor investigate
were also started 10 work out meth
DDS of getting rid of other poisonou
plants.