Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-04-21
GRAZING The woopt OF
Practice Net Always Profitable De.
cause !; interferes with Timber
Production


Farming. grazing and forestry NJ
ne three principal uses OF land fl
crop production. Farming is the mo,
intensive. and forestry is the lc1s
with rrazlug midway between In HOS
sstcmS OF diversified farming the
are mixed. particularly cultivation
and grazing Where II is possible
grazing and timber CROWNS are IL
Strioted TO the parts of the farm no
suitable FOR cultivation: hut grazing
I'm most farming systems is permute,
on cultivated land 10 improve IFS fer
tility. and both grazing and timber
growing are practCed on arabic land
whore no rough land occurs on tho
farm or in the community.
In cattle raising district aud
whore dairyluC is practiced, pastures
are in demand either for home use or
10 rent II the woodlot has grass. or
can be made TO produce grass and
torase, grazing viii generally DO
crowded into il. The question Il
+ whether grazing damages the woodiot
and whether. If II does. there may not
he certain advantages which outweigh
the damage done.
I Two advantages are claimed 10 re
sult from grazing in forest areas-f,-
yorable terminating conditions in the
sell cover and protection from fire.
Where there are extensive forests
with heavy grass and weeds, or the
timber tracts are interspersed with
range areas. there is a possibility OF
some fire protection from grazing
through the reduction OF the crop OF
lLflammable forage. In small isolated
voodlots surrounded by cultivated
fields. this does not apply Where
woodlots form continuous strips along
ridges, grazing might occasionally af
ford some fire protection, hut practi-
cally its value is negligible
AS to the beneficial effect on seed
bed conditions, there is a wide differ
cree Of opinion Where there is a
heavy leaf litter or grass sod, inter
rlittent grazing may serve to break |
the cover and let the seed reach mir
tIal soil. In some cases there Is the |
further advantage that young seed |
lngs are benefited by having the /
shade of a heavy forage cover leduo.,
~. Under favorable conditions, good |
may result from adjusting the graz
:',g to the requirements of the trees /
for vigorous growth. The difficulty
les in the practical application of in
tarrupted grazing. The use of the
Y oodIot for grazing purposes is apt to
10 continuous when once begun, par
bic; and all the good done at first /,
offset by laror damage.
The damage done BY grazing falls
Into TWO main classes, brow sing amt
In browsing. the foliage.
| ark, and stems are damaged and des-
t'Oyed, many of the young seedlings
Ere uprooted and killed outright and
others are so damaged that they die
Or make defective trees. Tramplng
packs the ground so that reproduc.
ion starts with difficulty, and it kills
.eedlings, and damages mature trees
by laying bare the roots and packing
he ground around them Tbn amount
IF damage, of course, depends on the ( ,
Intensity of the grazing. Light grazing
Will not do great damage except IN.
Ter very unfavorable conditions or
when the trees are young.
Whether it is profitable to put
stock into the woodlot depends upon !
)ther considerations besides the pro
iuction Of timber. The woodOt al.
ways affords some feed and room for I
he stock to range around, protection {
rom the storms Of winter, ald shade
through the summer heat. The value I
II the feed is appreciable; in parts OF 7
Connecticut. and Yer
l.ont, it ranges from ten TO twenty 7
i've cents per acre through five
months grazing period, and IN the cen &
raj part of Indiana reaches over one
lJllar per acre. This is due to the fact 7
hat in the latter locality tie woodlot
S usually open and handled to promote
he growth of forage, many OF the
yoodlots being really shade pastures
nd not timber producing woodlots.
Timber returns from the woOdlOt,
Icweyer, range from fifty cents to
ne dollar and half per acre, and
where there is a steady market for the
Lrplus above the farm needs the re.
urns from timber production IN the T
Toodlot should exceed those yielded
" grazing. With a fully stocked stand 3
t timber there is little forage of val
q produced. It is only under unfavor- 3
BILE conditions of location or stocking r
( the woodlot that good forage is =
ielded and grazing becomes of value. +
In conclusion it may be laid down =
hat if the welfare of the woodlot
lone is desired. grazing has no place Z
4 it, Light grazing may be permitted =
other considerations make it nee, Z
ssary, but it is better to keep stock r
ut If possible or practical. From the =
tandpoint OF stock raising or dairy r
ig it may become desirable to do Z
cine grazing in the timber areas on =
ne farm or to use their protection Ii 4
Only is wanted, small part =
the woodlnt can be fenced off for Il
he purpose. In any event if the wood .
IN Iav yIa I IL