The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1919-12-02
ST0CKMEN TO DEMAND THAT SOME MONEY
Be RETURNED TO RANGE IN IMPROVEMENT
YESTERDAYS MEETING OF NEVADA STOCKMENS ASSOCIATION
wNNEMUCCA PRODUCTIVE OF ACTIVE MOVEMENTS TENDING

ing On various portions of the forest,
the permittees Will be required to
expend about $1,000 year in build
ing fences and riding the ranges.
This work is solely for the benefit and
protection of the ranges.
To correct such evils the Nevada
Stockmen's Association will work for
a general regulation affecting all for
ests for the return of certain per-
centage of the amount paid in for
grazing fees, for definite work in
range improvement. At the present
time for all national forests in the
United States only $4,000 is appro-
priated annually for such purposes.
An effort will be made to have this
amount increased to at least -en per
cent Of the grazing revenues. Utah
and Idaho already are working fer
such a result.
Nevada is situated in United States
Forest Service district No. 4, the
headquarters of which are at Oglei..
Utah. The district comprises the
State of Nevada. except where some
California forests extend over the
western line; all of Utah; Idaho.
south of the Salmon river; western
Wyoming, and northern Arizona
There are twenty-eight forests in ths
district, and 168 in all of the United
States.
All stockmen present pronounced
the meeting a profitable one. 1t ap-
peared there would have been a much
larger attendance but for the sudden
and heavy snow storm. The after
noon session adjourned at 5:45, con-
cluding the meeting.
DR.. A. w. Sampson was asked for
an epitome of his address for publ
cation in The Silver State. He came
to the newspaper Office in the even
ing, talked twelve minutes to the limo
type operator. and one minute after
ward was handed proof of the fol-
lowing matter. in type and ready for
the press:
DR.. Sampson said during his talk
on Plants and Forage Production:
"In many localities stockmen are
not getting what they should from the
range because of too early grazing.
Early in the spring when the soil is
saturated with moisture a large pro-
portion of the roots are trampled out
of the ground, especially during wet
weather. The injury to vegetation
due to this cause is just about in pro-
portion to the extent that the roots
are destroyed. The most serious dam
age due to early grazing. however.
is brought about by depriving the
plant of its LEAKAGE early in the sea-
son. Tests at the Great Basin expert
ment station in central Utah have
clearly shown that grazing the range
the first few days after growth be-
gins is much more destructive than
cropping repeatedly latter in the sea-
son. Plants grazed twice during the
first month of growth produce only
about half as much herbage as when
grazed even more frequently late in
the season.
Another interesting fact brought
out in the experiment is that the food
value of plants, when grazed early in
the season. is not nearly as high as
in plants that are approaching ma
turity. AS expressed by some chem
lists the food value of young herbage
is little better than that of colored
water" Young forage plants lack
what is known as the balanced ra-
tion for stock. They are rich in pro-
eids-muscle-produ substances
but are distinctly lacking in sugars.
starches, and other valuable food ele-
ments. During the first couple of
weeks of growth the young herbage
contains from 20 to IS per cent water.
so that when II is recalled that
1O00-pound animal requires about rs
pounds of air-dried forage, 1t is evil
dent that he must travel an enormous
distance for his food supply. Recall
ing that the range early in the sprine
is very moist, it is clear that a great
deal of injury is done by tramplins
From all facts available. it may b
stated that the herbage production IS
decreased enormously IL grazed prio
to the first week or two of growtli
An occasional season of early grain
seldom causes permanent injury tf
forage crops. but If early grazing Is
continued for two or three seasons II
succession. the most palatable herl'
age - Destroyed