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Journal of Range Management, Volume 8, Number 1 (January 1955)

Item Type Journal; text

Publisher Society for Range Management

Journal Journal of Range Management

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Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/650311

Volume 8 Number 1 Journal of .Jamraq/ 1955 RANGE MANAGEMENT

Editorials tion or of unduly hampering the freedom of the sections. Incidents The Local Section which have occurred are more annoying than serious but they may serve as object lessons t,o point HE following remarks of a tion. The natural tendency is to out ways to take and those to be retiring member of the Edi- centralize nod voluntary effort to T avoided. The case of the local torial Board are not, meant as a counteract the trend is necessary, if group whose proposed name wits complaint that local scct,ions of t,he such is to be avoided. A completely rejected by headquarters comes to American Society of Range Manage- centralized organization with poli- mind. The members live in Montana ment have been ncglccted or mal- ries originat,ing at headquarters and and Alberta and proposed to call treated, either by the parent orgaui- emanating outward and downward themselves the International Sec- zation or the members. They merely to the members, loses vitality and tion. Objections were raised by the r&erate that sections occupy a either dies or becomes an automa- Counril and new proposals were plaw of great importance in RC- ton. With decentralization the indi- made. In t,he end, a name which complishing our exprcsscd objectives vidual members are important and nobody liked was tacked on: The and will attempt to call to mind their ideas make the program of the r?ome basic concepts couceroing the local section and these eventually Northern International Mountain relationship of sections to t,he rest consolidate into the policies and Section. Just try to say it and see if of the organization. ideals of the parent body. This anyone is still listening when you When the Societ,y came into being latter situation encourages healthy finish. Sot that the central body at the first mrcting in Salt Lake growth and vitality from the should not integrate activities and City t,he attendance and enthusiasm bottom up. keep the sections in line with agreed t,hwe bespoke big things for its Our Society rannot be accused of policies but sections need plenty of future. Such anticipation has been leaning seriously toward ccntralioa- frerdom to thrive and grow new justified in a cont,inued expansion. So rapid was the growth and spread of membership that local sections were rcqnired almost immediately to properly serve thr members. It is fortunate that the need for a division into smaller and more intimately- associated groups was recognized at such an early stage of development. Few organizations recognize this need until stagnation sets in and the local-section idea is then adopted as a means of revitalization. It can he said vith impunity that the ran- tinued healthy growth, beyond the initial spurt, and the high dcgrec of activity of our Society can be attributed, at least in part, to t,he fact that the ideals and purposes werr brought, &se to the pcoplc of a wide area by the formation of active sections. One danger which thratrns every large organization is owr-rrntralioa- 2 EDITORIALS wood. They should have freedom in The members of each section freedom on the part of local sections things like the name they choose, should have common interests and to meet their special conditions and their boundaries, their constitutions problems. To ensure this they the value of flexibility in boundaries and their activity programs. If locals should be regionally located rather to allow members with common are ever subjected to dictation by than be limited to political bound- interests to get together. the parent body stagnation will aries. The Northern Great Plains It may not be out of place at this begin. On the other hand our whole Section is a good example. The point to congratulate those who society will remain vital and members of this group felt that the formed the new section in the growthy as long as policies and range problems of their region Middle East; both those of our ideals originate with the membership needed special attention and they members from this continent, who in the locals and work upward to be were determined to have a section undoubtedly sparked the organiza- sorted and consolidated into the with that purpose at heart. In spite tion, and also our friends in those policies and principles of the parent of pressure to the contrary they lands who know even better than body. persevered and organized their we do the need for range conserva- With optimum freedom allowed section to include parts of Montana, tion. We might add our best wishes local sections, great responsibility North Dakota, southern Saskatch- and encouragement to the members is placed upon them and their ewan and southeastern Alberta. of the Middle East whose responsi- members. To function most ef- The broad base of this Society bility it will be to keep this section ficiently a section must be closely and its opportunity for world going in the years to come and to knit in organization and member- influence is attested by the an- form new sections as they are ship. Groups that are too large and nouncement that a Middle East needed. too widespread may fail to keep the Section has been formed and ap- Let each of us see that his local unanimity and close contact needed. proved. At the organization meeting section is a strong one and the For this reason some of our sections influence of its good work is felt in may be too large. Some members are it was the expressed intent that the finding it difficult ‘to travel the word “American” in the Society’s the range country where it functions distance required to attend the name was “Continental” rather and is reflected in the strength of functions of the section. True, we than “National” in concept. And the American Society of Range have machinery whereby sub- now our influence is spreading Management .- Wallace R. Hanson, sections can be formed but, in beyond the seas. The formation of Assistant Chief Forester, Eastern some cases, local sections may be this section accentuates the points Rockies Forest Conservation Board, more appropriate. expressed above; the need for Calgary, Alberta.

What About Our Range Management In order to make constructive remedial suggestions it is important Technical Assistance Frogram;? to investigate the weakness of our agricultural advisory programs. It ANY people have emphasized in their range management pro- has been suggested that we have M the importance of our tech- grams. been guilty of harping on over- nical assistance programs in main- Our failure to render our best grazing and reducing numbers of taining the strength of the free service is reflected in the opinion of livestock. Another philosophy of world. If this be true, then it be- Dr. Harlan and others who criticize pooh-poohing the effectiveness of hooves us to carefully ,Fonsider the our actions abroad. I don’t want to grazing management has led us into recent article by Di. %&rlan $g the insinuate that ours is the only pro- concentrating on glamour problems Journal about our rep&setitation fession under attack. No doubt, even such as brush control, poisonous in overseas technical assistance Dr. Harlan would agree that some plants and reseeding. At the same programs. Perhaps it is time for us technicians in all fields (geneticists time we have largely overlooked to wake up to the fact that our not excluded) have been guilty of the importance of integrating use of Society has a responsibility to in- not providing the best possible improved and unimproved pastures, sure the best possible help for others assistance. pin-pointing the critical seasons for 2 EDITORIALS wood. They should have freedom in The members of each section freedom on the part of local sections things like the name they choose, should have common interests and to meet their special conditions and their boundaries, their constitutions problems. To ensure this they the value of flexibility in boundaries and their activity programs. If locals should be regionally located rather to allow members with common are ever subjected to dictation by than be limited to political bound- interests to get together. the parent body stagnation will aries. The Northern Great Plains It may not be out of place at this begin. On the other hand our whole Section is a good example. The point to congratulate those who society will remain vital and members of this group felt that the formed the new section in the growthy as long as policies and range problems of their region Middle East; both those of our ideals originate with the membership needed special attention and they members from this continent, who in the locals and work upward to be were determined to have a section undoubtedly sparked the organiza- sorted and consolidated into the with that purpose at heart. In spite tion, and also our friends in those policies and principles of the parent of pressure to the contrary they lands who know even better than body. persevered and organized their we do the need for range conserva- With optimum freedom allowed section to include parts of Montana, tion. We might add our best wishes local sections, great responsibility North Dakota, southern Saskatch- and encouragement to the members is placed upon them and their ewan and southeastern Alberta. of the Middle East whose responsi- members. To function most ef- The broad base of this Society bility it will be to keep this section ficiently a section must be closely and its opportunity for world going in the years to come and to knit in organization and member- influence is attested by the an- form new sections as they are ship. Groups that are too large and nouncement that a Middle East needed. too widespread may fail to keep the Section has been formed and ap- Let each of us see that his local unanimity and close contact needed. proved. At the organization meeting section is a strong one and the For this reason some of our sections influence of its good work is felt in may be too large. Some members are it was the expressed intent that the finding it difficult ‘to travel the word “American” in the Society’s the range country where it functions distance required to attend the name was “Continental” rather and is reflected in the strength of functions of the section. True, we than “National” in concept. And the American Society of Range have machinery whereby sub- now our influence is spreading Management .- Wallace R. Hanson, sections can be formed but, in beyond the seas. The formation of Assistant Chief Forester, Eastern some cases, local sections may be this section accentuates the points Rockies Forest Conservation Board, more appropriate. expressed above; the need for Calgary, Alberta.

What About Our Range Management In order to make constructive remedial suggestions it is important Technical Assistance Frogram;? to investigate the weakness of our agricultural advisory programs. It ANY people have emphasized in their range management pro- has been suggested that we have M the importance of our tech- grams. been guilty of harping on over- nical assistance programs in main- Our failure to render our best grazing and reducing numbers of taining the strength of the free service is reflected in the opinion of livestock. Another philosophy of world. If this be true, then it be- Dr. Harlan and others who criticize pooh-poohing the effectiveness of hooves us to carefully ,Fonsider the our actions abroad. I don’t want to grazing management has led us into recent article by Di. %&rlan $g the insinuate that ours is the only pro- concentrating on glamour problems Journal about our rep&setitation fession under attack. No doubt, even such as brush control, poisonous in overseas technical assistance Dr. Harlan would agree that some plants and reseeding. At the same programs. Perhaps it is time for us technicians in all fields (geneticists time we have largely overlooked to wake up to the fact that our not excluded) have been guilty of the importance of integrating use of Society has a responsibility to in- not providing the best possible improved and unimproved pastures, sure the best possible help for others assistance. pin-pointing the critical seasons for EDITORIALS 3 using desirable forage plants, and ciety, particularly in pointing out ties, in spite of the unique socio- resorting to livestock management what professional range manage- economic influences under which we rather than cultural methods as our ment has to offer. may be working, should begin to most important tool in economical What can we do? In the first dissolve ! range improvement. I think all of place, we can remind ourselves and Let us remember, further, that an us have failed in not insisting on others that our job is no different overseas assignment may be the more basic research in range and from other land managers in that biggest challenge we will ever have 1ivest)ock management. The matter we have to depend upon coordina- to face. As a representative of the of livestock management may be tion of research, teaching and ex- U. S. A., we become an important particularly important in getting tension. Our ability to get the job ambassador of good will in addition the job done where machinery done will depend upon our per- to reflecting on the standards of our is limited but labor for livestock formance in all three fields. Let us profession. May it never be said herding is plentiful ! remember that basic facts on soil- that the range scientists failed to do If the recent article in question is a fair measure of how other tech- plant-animal relationships are all their bit in preserving the peace of nicians regard our range improve- important in making our range the world.-Donald W. Hedrick, ment programs, we have failed in management programs effective. If Assistant Professor of Range Man- our mission to inform people as to we adopt this attitude in foreign agement, Oregon State College, t!he aims and objectives of our So- assignments, some of our difficul- Corvallis, Oregon

RANGE SOCIETY OFFICERS ELECTED FOR 1955

The Elections Committee, THOMASG. WILLIS, Chairman, announce the election of the following officers of the American Society of Range Management for 1955: President: A. P. ATKINS, rancher, Box 470, Guymon, Oklahoma Vice-President: JOHN D. FREEMAN,Soil Conservation Service, Box 1589, Prescott, Arizona Board of Directors, 1955-57 LESLIE R. ALBEE, Soil Conservation Service, Box 1671, Rapid City, South Dakota DONALD F. HERVEY, School of Forestry and Range Management, Colorado A. and M. Col- lege, Fort Collins, Colorado

BUSINESS MEETINGS OF DIRECTORS AND SECTION CHAIRMEN ANNOUNCED

Acting President A. P. ATKINS has announced the following schedule of annual business meetings to be held at the Eighth Annual Meeting of the American Society of Range Management at the Hotel Sainte Claire in San Jose, California: January 25, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Business meeting of Board of Directors January 25, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Section Chairmen meeting January 28, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Business meeting of Board of Directors other items concerned with their Livestock and Big Game Relaaionships’ sport must be considerable. This general and rapid expansion JOHN. M. HALL of hunting and fishing license Director, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Phoenix, buyers both in Arizona and na- Arizona tionally, is matched by the immense army of vacationists. These persons HE problem of Livestock versus those of us whose j oh it is to manage claim right to, and use, our national T Wildlife has plagued us since game. forests. . . . the same lands which the turn of the century. No issue, Let me quote a bit from a recent are so vital to us as ranges for our except that of water, has raised so issue of Fortune Magazine : cattle and wildlife. many conflicting opinions and prob- Certainly, in the past few decades, “Full of vigor and promise, the lems, leisure and recreationalmarket today the overall picture has changed. As Instead of decreasing in intensity, is one of the largest and most complex Jimmy Durante says, “Everyone this battle has become broader and in the entire U. S. economy. It wants to get inta the act.” more bitter as the years go by. It measures about $30.6 billion an- The professional cattleman and nually, which is half again as much would seem that as we learn more as the American consumer spends the professional conservationist are about the proper management of on clothing or shelter, and twice often so biased in their thinking both livestock and wildlife on our what he lays out for new cars or that they are unaware that these ranges, some progress would be home goods. Its components are a changes have taken place. But we made toward solving the battle of hodgepodge of smaller markets, some must face the facts, and the fact is wholly inter-dependent,others closely conflicting use. related but antagonistic. that at the present time all of the In spite of research, the con- The leisure market becomes more other conflicting interests on our flicting claims of one side against the intelligible if it is viewed in two rangelands must force us to work other are still being debated on all parts: First, the heart of that mar- out some mutual solution to the levels, from the corner bar to the ket is $18 billion of unmistakable problem of livestock-versus-wild- leisure-recreational expenditures on Washington conference table. spectator amusements,spectator and life. It is our good fortune, I believe, participant athletics, HUNTING AND The professional conservationist that there is a third element’ FISHING, gardening, boating, etc. A usually begins his side of the story entering this fight. This third party secondary group, totaling a little by denouncing the cattlemen for is composed of those persons who over $12.6 billion, is made up of the devasting over-use of our ranges. consumer expenditures. . . .” believe that livestock and wildlife He is bitter in this attack, often can live side-by-side on the same In the past 10 years the income forgetting the privation and hard- range, or in the same ecological area, of the Arizona Game and Fish ships endured by those hardy, early- and thrive. Department has increased by 400 day cattlemen who carved a cattle It should be obvious to all of us percent. Bear in mind that this empire in the West. But the that we live in changing times. increase is a reflection of license conservationist is right when he says Much as many of us regret it, the numbers, not increases in the cost of that there has been serious over- ways of the Old West are passing. licenses. grazing. There was a time when cattle was The budget for the Department I’m reminded of a cartoon by king and the cattle interests wereall- for the fiscal year 1954-55 is over J. R. Williams. Curly and old Stiffy powerful. We are all aware that the one million dollars. That, alone is are riding by a fenced-off plot on cattle industry is still of vital proof positive that hunting and the range. Inside the fence the importance to us in the West, fishing amounts to something in this grass is high and luxuriant. Curley but it is not the only great source of state. is telling Stiffy: “They put that our wealth today! Cattle has compe- It has been figured that the cost there to show us how high the grass tition in the form of growing of a hunter’s license is about 3 would grow if we didn’t run cattle industry and growing population. percent, on the average, of his on this ranch!” And it is the growing population general expenditure for hunting. Of course, there has been over- that is of specific importance to Obviously, in a state such as grazing and everyone knows it. Arizona, with more species of game Putting the finger of blame now on 1 Paper presented at the Summer to hunt than in any other state, the the cattlemen will not bring back Meeting of the Arizona Section, American Society of Range Management, Flagstafl, total expenditures of our sportsmen the range that was depleted years Arizona, June 11-12, 1954. on equipment, gasoline, food and ago. The main point t,o make clear

4 LIVESTOCK-BIG GAME RELATIONSHIPS 5 is that the cattle interests have a rate. The Kaibab herd is the classic begun to eat its second or third legitimate right to use our ranges. example. choices. But I certainly do not feel that What is left?Arange that isuseless In any event, severe misuse gen- cattle have exclusive right to these for years and years for both live- erally results from overstocking by ranges. Wildlife have the prior right stock or deer. A herd of cattle may either one species or the other . . . by virtue of being there first. But be built up rapidly . . . a deer herd at any one time. The class of animal that, in this modern day and age is will multiply with astonishing speed over-using the range can be deter- not sufficient. Wildlife have a right . . . but a devasted range may take mined by range examination. When to be considered as legitimate users decades to regain its former vigor this is done that class of animal of our rangelands because tlhe and should climatic conditions causing the depletion should be millions of hunters and fishermen in prove right, it could degenerate reduced in numbers until range our nation demand they have that into a barren wasteland for thou- conditions are brought into balance. right. sands of years. Every effort is being made by the Here in Arizona, we are par- Most western ranges are dry, and Arizona Department to do just t,icularly touchy on this subject. So the production of forage is slow. that in the case of deer and elk. In much of the land in our state is Even well-managed ranges, under spite of criticism from some under federal control and so little drought conditions, will have the quarters, it is our belief that con- privately owned, that as contro- look of heavy overgrazing. In dry tinued good hunting can only be versial a subject as wildlife versus climates plants struggle for their accomplished by continuing good livestock on our ranges is bound to existence even under the best con- range conditions. Providing hunt- draw fire whenever it is mentioned. ditions. On some ranges even ing and fishing is our business . . . I am convinced that wildlife has moderate grazing by either live- we are charged with the wise man- a growing place of importance on stock or wildlife will seriously and agement of our wildlife resource our ranges. First, because the voice quickly kill the best forage and now and for the future . . . and de- of those who demand more hunting leave the less valuable, seldom- vastated rangeland from whatever and fishing from Game tiepart- grazed plants. cause, is not going to provide good ments is growing stronger each Obviously, we have many areas hunting in the future. year. Secondly, because in many in the West with too many big Let me be specific, in what we areas the rangeland has become so game animals, just as there are are doing. First, we are making depleted by overuse that it will many areas with too many live- every effort to broaden the scope of support little if anything BUT a stock. The fact that a range has our hunts. Each year our deer and wildlife crop. too many big game animals is just elk hunts have taken more animals On what we have left of our as important to us, the game man- through relaxed regulations, ranges we are in the middle of an agers, as over-abundance of cattle. broader hunting areas, the use of argument as to their proper use. It In either case, the result is costly. the “any sex” hunt and the open- must be wildlife AND cattle, not There have been efforts to de- ing of many areas to unlimited wildlife OR cattle. It is the DE- velop a concept of separate range number of hunters. GREE to which a range is used by use. One range on each area for These steps were not undertaken either wildlife or livestock that is each species of animal. This may in the face of pressure from certain groups, but strictly because we felt the very heart of our problem. seem rather far fetched but it may be a solution to the problem. that the state of the range in many Generally speaking, there is little When a range is stocked with areas demanded a reduction in conflict between deer and cattle in either wildlife or livestock there is deer and elk numbers. the choice of food. Cattle prefer an immediate use of the most In the case of elk, our elk-proof grass. . . . deer prefer browse. When palatable plant species in the areas plots on the Sitgreaves National a range is overgrazed, the grass most accessible to that species. Forest gave us the first indication dies and browse appears in greater Then, each species begins to con- that elk herds were increasing in amounts. The cattle are slowly sume the foods of secondary prefer- this area. Because of the hunts held starved out and the deer herd in- ence, which might well be the in the past several years, we have creases. When the deer herd has primary food of the other species. every reason to believe that the elk increased to a point where it has We can readily see that conflict herd has been scattered and pres- reduced the entire range to well- begins when one class of animal or sure relieved on critical portions of chewed stubs, the herd dies of mal- the other has eaten beyond the list the range. nutrition and disease at a rapid of its primary preferences and has Our efforts to control the growing 6 JOHN M. HALL

Kaibab deer herd are almost too have been reduced by 25 or 30 per- at a faster rate than any other re- well known to mention. Our take of cent that the wildlife using the source. When the situation became deer on the Kaibab has increased range should also be reduced that intolerable the fighting between the yearly and we feel that we are on much. In some cases the wildlife timber interests, the conservation top of this herd. might not be reduced at aZ2,and in interests and the federal govern- The number of deer harvested in other cases it would be proper to ment ceased and the modern con- Arizona has doubled in the last five reduce the wildlife species by many cept of sustained-yield timber pro- years. We harvested 18,803 deer times the reduction in cattle num- duction and tree-farming was during the 1953 season. About one- bers. instituted. That the results of third of this total was from the How are we going to determine cooperation and understanding Kaibab. And through the relaxa- the degree of stocking on our have been successful is plain. The tion of regulations our number of ranges? There is no practical timbering interests are now in the deer hunters last year went to over answer . . . yet. A good many men forefront in supplying money and 57,000. with the tools of modern research research for sustained yield timber We certainly believe that we are . . . and a good many men with management. The public, the gov- doing something about this problem. years of practical experience will ernment and the timbering inter- The Arizona Game and Fish Com- be needed to find the answer. ests have all benefitted. mission budget for range develop- Our first step must be the ac- We are going to have to take a ment and rehabilitation will be curate inventory of what we now lesson from the foresters. Their over 180 thousand dollars for fiscal have. We cannot possibly progress problem was solved in the most 1954-55. We feel that this is far any further until such an inventory part and our problem of livestock more than any other organization is made. Our next step is an ex- versus big game on our rangelands in the state is spending on direct panded program of research . . . can be solved, too. range rehabilitation. research that will show us what we There is a place for both . . . and We have areas that sorely need can do with what we have. a need for both . . . and it is not attention. The south Kaibab is I sometimes feel that we have yet too late for a solution that will one. On the Bill Williams our men been so caught up in catch phrases benefit everyone. have made continuous range in- like “wise land use” and “good This meeting is as good a time vestigations. They feel that there land management” that we say as any to begin concrete accom- has been severe overuse by both these things, but usually don’t plishments. Talking and arguing deer and livestock. This range is know what we’re talking about. are not the answer. We must work in such poor condition that al- How do we know what is “wise together and work more closely. though deer numbers are not heavy land use” or “proper range man- Every month that goes by reduces as compared to other areas, the agement?” And if we actually do the possibility of our ever having range is not responding to decreased not know, then we must very better ranges for both livestock deer use. quickly start finding out. Fighting AND wildlife. The Moqui has received a good the battle of multiple use of public We are like a posse without a deal of attention from our Depart- lands over and over again is a waste sheriff. We know the bank has been ment and we have had “any sex” of time. While the fight may still robbed but we stand around argu- hunting and increased hunting pres- be hot the handwriting is on the ing about which direction to go. sure for several years. wall for the opponents of multiple We know that our rangelands need These are some of the concrete use, and the battle is already lost. immediate attention-and argu- things we have started in an effort The 30 billion, 600 million dollar ments are not going to give the to control wildlife populations to recreation business that has boomed ranges that attention. the betterment of the range. How- in the past decade has seen to that. If you must have a catch phrase ever, I must again bring up the Let us take a look at a sister then let me suggest two words: subject of DEGREE of use. industry that has learned a great Cooperation and Moderation. Co- It does not necessarily follow that lesson. Timber resources in the operation among ourselves-and because livestock grazing permits United States were being depleted moderation in our use of the range. nearly denuded of palatable forage An Approach to Cooperative Range over the years and the grazing capacity was estimated to be 20 Management acres or more per AUM. Sagebrush

WAYNE J. CLOWARD and DERREL S. FULWIDER and Halogeton had invaded this area in considerable quantities. District Forest Ranger, Humboldt National Forest, U. S. Forest The irrigated meadows on the Service, Paradise Valley, Nevada and District Range Manager, Pyramid Grazing District, Bureau of Land Management, Win- ranches were producing more than nemucca, Nevada enough hay for their annual livestock needs, in comparison to range HERE are many acres of sick reestablishment of the perennial forage production. T land throughout the western forage species. After various separate and joint states-lands in critical condition The Paradise C & H allotment investigations, the Forest Service, upon which many livestock people on the forest and the adjacent the BLM and the permittees got are depending for their livelihood Paradise Unit on the Bureau of together and analyzed the condi- and for the future of their children Land Management lands is one of tion of the ranges, the job to be and children’s children. those areas which had not re- done, and the economic effects of One of these areas is in northern sponded to ordinary good manage- initiating special management prac- Humboldt County. Paradise Valley, ment practices. Flash floods, soil tices. The result was a signed so named by the early settlers, be- and vegetation losses, decrease in agreement which committed the cause of the vast acreage of peren- perennial grasses and the spread of two agencies and the permittees to nial “grass waving from hill to pool their resources, reaching to- hill,” is the hub of ranch activities ward a common objective of range in this part of Nevada. The Santa rehabilitation and stabilization of A suggested approach to and Rosa Division of the Humboldt the livestock industry and tax report of progress on cooperation National Forest and the adjacent structure of the valley. between private operators and lands administered by the Pyramid The agreement provided for com- federal land administrators in se- District Grazing Office of the bining Forest and BLM lands into curing range improvements and Bureau of Land Management com- a broad grazing ,allotment in the more effective use of the range prise the seasonal ranges necessary following manner : Approximately resource. to the year-round livestock opera- 12,000 acres of lower reseedable tions in this locality. BLM land was set up as Unit I. A The history of use of these ranges two and one-half mile strip of unre- is similar to many other comparable Halogeton, sagebrush and other seedable BLM lands between Unit regions throughout the West: early undesirable plants were still pro- I and the fenced forest boundary settlement, rapid development of gressing was set up as Unit II. This com- livestock industry and influx of In order to reverse the downward prised approximately 15,000 acres. many nomad grazing herds. These trend in soil and forage condition The high country within the forest nomad herds, lacking a base of and insure a continuous long range boundary totaling 21,000 usable operations, stayed on the ranges as supply of clear water and usable acres became Unit III. long as weather permitted. This use forage, it was apparent that it was The Forest Service adjusted the coupled with the grazing herds of necessary to adjust the use to the opening date in Unit III to absorb the bona fide rancher and settler. available forage or increase the the spring grazing load formerly together with game herds increasing forage to meet the grazing demands carried on the BLM Unit I and II under protection by law, rapidly and watershed requirements or until the reseeded area in Unit I damaged or denuded much of the both. was ready for grazing. grassland area of Paradise Valley. The range trend was still down- The agreement further provides Some of the lesser damaged ward. Therefore, adjustments in that after the seedings become areas have and are responding to use appeared necessary. The to- established, no increase will be regulated use initiated through pography of the higher country allowed in livestock numbers but stockmen participating in Federal where appropriate ordinary man- instead, two weeks less use will be management programs. Other areas, agement practices are in effect is allowed on the national forest and almost completely devastated early too steep and rough for reseeding. the AUMs involved will be ab- in the century, are still carrying The adjacent BLM lands are level, sorbed by the increased grazing too many livestock for too long a deep soiled and very adaptable to capacity on Unit I. Any further period to provide for recovery and reseeding. These lands had been adjustments will be worked out 8 RICHARD D. BURR cooperatively with the three parties the permit’s will be rewritten to coin- ment of desirable forage species and involved. cide with the estimated proper period soil stabilization, stop the spread of Since the permittees need the ofiuse for each Unit. The opening Halogeton, replace sagebrush with period from April 1 to September 1 dates on each unit will be flexible to grass and put worn-out grazing for hay production on the meadows, insure proper use at the time of range land into full production through it is necessary for the cattle to be readiness depending on seasonal reseeding, and to eventually pro- on the public lands throughout this fluctuations in forage production. vide a more dependable long range period. The permittees agreed to Units I, II and III plus the cut- supply of forage and water for the take the cattle off the public lands over hay lands will be used in that livestock grower. and put them on their cutover hay order with each unit to be grazed Ultimate success of the whole meadows about Sept,ember 1. only to the extent considered program now depends on future co- The reseeding is very successful proper. Each unit will be managed operation in management of the at the time of this publication and by the agency having jurisdiction area in order to maintain benefits checks indicate that the grazing over the land in close working rela- being received and insure the sta- capacity in Unit I will be increased tionship with the other agency and bility of the rehabilitated range. from seven to nine times. Control with the permittees. Specific annual Accomplishment to date has been fences are being constructed as management will be determined by with fullest cooperation of the rapidly as funds are available to conditions on the ground. agencies and permittees involved. provide for rotation and deferment By this action, it is planned to It is working here and it is believed on those parts of the Units requir- accomplish the objectives of re- there are many other areas where ing further remedial measures. ducing the use of the high mountain such cooperative planning and ac- Prior to the next grazing season, areas to provide for reestablish- tion will work as well.

duces an abundance of seed it is An Australian Grass in Texas worthy of study by the agrostologist and plant breeder.” RICHARD D. BURR Range Conservationist, Bureau of Land Management, Lander, Breakwell (1915, 1923) stated W&m&g that reasonable rainfall would produce nine months of highly palata- ILKY BLUESTEM (hd?-OpOgOn Hitchcock (1935). In the revised ble grazing and the grass would S sericeus R. Br.), a subtropical edition (Hitchcock, 1951) it is recover quickly from use. He com- grass of major importance on cer- reported as “spontaneous on road- mented that the grass stood heavy tain Australian ranges, is en- side banks, Cameron County, trampling, made good hay and a countered more and more fre- Texas.” Swallen (1950) says of the good seed crop. McTaggart (1936) quently on Texas grasslands. It has grass “It has been cultivated at and Roe (1940) refer to silky blue- appeared, with but few exceptions, experiment stations and occurs stem as one of the better grasses. on Texas pastures through the along roadsides in South Texas.” Silky bluestem is highly variable accidental importation of its. seed The spread of silky bluestem, or in vegetative characters. Smooth, with those of other grasses, usually Queensland bluegrass as it is known bright-green or dull-blue plants, rhodesgrass (Chloris gayana). At in Australia (Hartley et al., 1942), with but a ring of silky hairs at the nodes, may intermingle with speci- present collections and field obser- should excite interest. It is highly mens on which the white hairs of vations by personnel of the Soil regarded as a forage grass in its the foliage almost obscure the color Conservation Service have estab- native country as indicated by of the leaves and sheaths (Fig. 2). lished occurrence of the Australian White (1934) : Little variation occurs on the seed grass in 20 counties in South Texas “Bluegrass has an exceptionally heads. All are covered densely with the northern limit of its range high reputation as a fodder among with silky white hairs which con- in Bexar, Medina, Coma1 and pastoralists. It is usually one of the trast with the deep brown awns of Guadalupe counties (Fig. 1). earliest grasses to shoot in response the fertile florets. White (1934) This grass was not reported in to spring and early summer rains, but it is not particularly drought comments on the large number of the first edition of “Manual of the resistant. It makes one of the best distinguishable forms of the species Grasses of the United States” by grass hays possible and as it pro- in its native habitat. 8 RICHARD D. BURR cooperatively with the three parties the permit’s will be rewritten to coin- ment of desirable forage species and involved. cide with the estimated proper period soil stabilization, stop the spread of Since the permittees need the ofiuse for each Unit. The opening Halogeton, replace sagebrush with period from April 1 to September 1 dates on each unit will be flexible to grass and put worn-out grazing for hay production on the meadows, insure proper use at the time of range land into full production through it is necessary for the cattle to be readiness depending on seasonal reseeding, and to eventually pro- on the public lands throughout this fluctuations in forage production. vide a more dependable long range period. The permittees agreed to Units I, II and III plus the cut- supply of forage and water for the take the cattle off the public lands over hay lands will be used in that livestock grower. and put them on their cutover hay order with each unit to be grazed Ultimate success of the whole meadows about Sept,ember 1. only to the extent considered program now depends on future co- The reseeding is very successful proper. Each unit will be managed operation in management of the at the time of this publication and by the agency having jurisdiction area in order to maintain benefits checks indicate that the grazing over the land in close working rela- being received and insure the sta- capacity in Unit I will be increased tionship with the other agency and bility of the rehabilitated range. from seven to nine times. Control with the permittees. Specific annual Accomplishment to date has been fences are being constructed as management will be determined by with fullest cooperation of the rapidly as funds are available to conditions on the ground. agencies and permittees involved. provide for rotation and deferment By this action, it is planned to It is working here and it is believed on those parts of the Units requir- accomplish the objectives of re- there are many other areas where ing further remedial measures. ducing the use of the high mountain such cooperative planning and ac- Prior to the next grazing season, areas to provide for reestablish- tion will work as well.

The grass is generally palatable of which 40 percent falls in the silky bluestem were found to be to livestock but stockmen disagree winter, is markedly similar to the confined to the deepest of three as to its relative palatability. All larger portion of the two Australian calcareous soil types of the area will agree that it is not as good as sections. Silky bluestem would (Orrben, 1942). Virtually no plants bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) seem adapted in this area of Texas. occurred on the very shallow soil which possesses a preferential status This inference is substantiated by t,ype. in pastures throughout much of its behavior through natural in- Texas. Variations in palatability are crease in areas of introduction. On Typical Pastures Planted to Australian-grown associated with the variations in the other hand, its extended range Rhodesgrass Seed vegetative characteristics. On one into the Tropics indicates a degree pasture observed in June 1952 the of adaptability southward into Most stands of silky bluestem in variant preferred by cattle was the Mexico but would limit northward Texas seem to have come from extension of its present limits in the “blue” form densely covered with plantings of a tame pasture grass, United States. white hairs. Plants of that aspect usually rhodesgrass, harvested in Australia. Three such pastures oc- were grazed to the ground. Few Site Preference cur within a one-mile radius of the observations have been made on Under Australian conditions the eastern city limits of San Antonio. t,his point. grass exhibits marked site prefer - In three fields selected as typical, the initial planting in 1944-45 was to rhodesgrass. Examination in 1951 and 1952, by line intercepts of basal areas of the grasses re- vealed that rhodesgrass had almost completely disappeared from the fields and Australian and native grasses were established. Silky bluestem had become the dominant grass in all fields (Table 1). The native species were those normally established on fields turned-out from cultivation : red threeawn (Aristida Zongiseta), pinhole bluestem (Andropogon perforatus) and silver bluestem (Andropogon suc- churoides). Texas wintergrass (Stipu

It Zeucotrichu) was also present. All native grasses listed in Table 1 ences. Breakwell (1923) says that cccur in limited quantities in the Climatic Limitations the grass “will fight shy of poor climax vegetation of the locality in- Silky bluestem is the most com- country”. In his ecological account volved. Tanglehead (Heteropogon mon of Australian bluestems of Australian grasses, McTaggart ccntortus) is included with the (Breakwell, 1923) and the limits of (1936) consistently correlates the exotic species. This grass is native its range occur in New Caledonia occurrence of silky bluestem with to Texas but does not occur na- and the Philippines. In Australia, the better soils of all localities. silky bluestem is a dominant or co- A corroborative check was made dominant in an area including the of the establishment of silky blue- Darling Downs and Liverpool stem on various soil types in a tame Plains of Queensland and New pasture in eastern Medina County South Wales near the east coast in latitudes 25 to 32”S., according to seeded in 1944 to Australian-pro- McTaggart (1936). This area ap- duced rhodesgrass. Silky bluestem proximates the latitudinal range in was present as an impurity in this Texas from Coma1 County (30”N. seed. Colonies of silky bluestem Lat.) south to Cameron County have become established and spread (26’N. Lat.). A north-south strip while the original pasture grass has in t,his portion of Texas with an disappeared. FIGURE 2. Silky bluest,em at late average rainfall of 20 to 30 inches, Nearly all established colonies of seed maturity. 10 RICHARD D. BURR

Table 1. Basal cover and percentage composition in 1953 of grasses (Andropogon sericeus) is of major on three fields planted in 1944 to Australian-grown rhodesgrass importance on eastern Australian 1 I Field 1 Field 2 Field 3 ranges, especially in the Provinces of Queensland and New South Basal Basal Basal Comp. Comp. Camp. cover cover cover Wales. It is held in high esteem in

percent its native land. Australian 9.1 76.5 9.7 87.4 16.5 93.2 Silky bluestem seems well Silky bluestem 9.1 76.5 9.7 87.4 14.3 80.8 adpated to that portion of the - - - - Other species* 2.2 12.4 United States (South Texas) that Native 2.8 23.5 1.4 12.6 1.2 6.8 approximates the climatic and Red threeawn 2.6 21.9 1.4 12.6 0.6 3.4 Texas wintergrass 0.2 1.6 - - - T edaphic conditions of Australia Silver bluestem - T - T 0.6 3.4 wherein it reaches its greatest im- Total Grasses 11.9 100.0 11.1 100.0 17.7 100.0 portance. The palatability is rela- - tively high both here and in * Consisting of Andropogon intermedius, A spicigerus and Heteropogon contortus (native of Texas but not occurring locally). Australia. Palatability is related to vegetative characteristics which are tively in the local area. However, it past few years have caused high exceptionally varied. does occur in the area of Australia seedling mortality and resulted in In fields where it has been acci- from which the seed was collected poor stands. Breakwell (1915) in- dentally established the grass has so it is inferred that this seed was dicates that drought might result in become dominant. In the vicinity also introduced. The form noted poor stands but that good germina- of San Antonio, Texas, interest has also was not typical of the grass on tion may be secured only by plant- been aroused in the species and Texas rangelands. Neither ber- ing in a warm soil. seed harvesting and planting have mudagrass nor rhodesgrass were One field of 11 acres was sown been done by ranchers. encountered on any o$ the transects. with seed taken from the food LITERATURE CITED As observed in a 50-mile radius caches of the harvest ant (Po- BREAKWELL, E. 1915. Pasture grasses. of San Antonio, the establishment gonom yrex barbatus)! The ants New South Wales Dept. Agr of silky bluestem is usually limited stripped the ripe seed from a 3- Farmers Bull. 96. 106 pp. ___ 1923. The grasses and fodder to fields, but it is not always con- acre field of silky bluestem im- plants of New South Wales. A. J. fined to them. A pasture dominated mediately prior to harvest time. Kent, Sydney, Australia. 370 pp. by an overstory of mesquite (Pro- The rancher promptly poisoned the HARTLEY, W. et al. 1942. Standardized plant names. Austral. Council. Sci. sopis juliJEoravar. glandulosa) and a ant beds (74 in all), ripped open the and Ind. Res. Bull. 156. 99 pp. dense grass sod of buffalograss pocket-watch sized caches and HITCHCOCK, A. S. 1935. Manual of the (Buchloe dactyloides) and Texas saved his seed! The germination of grasses of the United States. U. S. Dept. Agr. Misc. Pub. 200. wintergrass has colonies of silky this seed was 27.5 %, despite test- F. 1951. Manual of the grasses of the bluestem established along an inter- ing immediately upon harvesting. United States. U. S. Dept. Agr. mittent stream for approximately Another Coma1 County field of Misc. Publ. 200. 1051 pp. (2nd. ed., rev. by Agnes Chase). one-half mile. The colonies are ar- 100 acres was established, more KELSEY; H. P. et al. 1942. Standardized ranged in narrow wedge with its prosaically, from a seed source of plant names. J. H. McFarland Co., head closest to the seed source 19 acres by raking seed hay across Harrisburg, Pa. 673 pp. 2nd. ed. MCTAGGART, A. 1936. A survey of the and the edge accordingly lying the remainder of the field. This pastures of Australia. Austral. down-stream. The seed source is an field was the source of 3-pound Count. Sci. and Ind. Res. Bull. 99. old field adjoining the pasture. packets of silky bluestem seed dis- 71 PP. ORRBEN, C. L. 1942. Procedure for tributed by the local Soil Con- making utilitarian soil conservation Establishment of Seed servation District for trial under surveys, Region IV. Soil Conserva- tion Service, Region IV Memo. no. 6. Stockmen aware of the identity all conditions. No records are as yet mimeo. of the grass have become interested available as to the results. ROE, R. 1940. The natural semi-arid in silky bluestem because of the pastures of northern Australia. In good stands on old fields that have Summary Grassland investigations in Aus- tralia. Commonwealth Bur. Pasture become established without recog- An Australian range grass has and Field Crops Herb. Publ. Ser. nition or encouragement. Harvest- been introduced into a widespread Bull. 29 : 26-34. SWALLEN, J. R. 1950. Some introduced ing and planting of the seed were area of South Texas primarily forage grasses of the genus Andro- carried on in 1950 and 1951 by through impurities of Australian- pogon and related species. Contr. Tex. Res. Found. l(2) : 15-19. some of those ranchers. The ab- produced seed. This grass, silky WHITE, C. T. 1934. Queensland grasses. normal heat and drought of the bluestem or Queensland bluegrass Queensland Agr. Jour. 41: 54-58. sources in the highlands to the The Llanos-A Neglected Grazing north. Starting as swift mountain Resource torrents, they flatten out into sluggish, muddy streams, with the

C. LANGDON WIIITE and JOHN THOMPSON reduction in gradient in the low- lands. Professor and Instructor, respectively, Department of Geogra,- phy, Stanford University, Stanford, C’alifornia During the season of high rainfall these rivers swell tremendously, HE Llanos are unique in being in which the region could support overflow their banks and inundate T grasslands lying within 10 de- more cattle in the future. huge areas along their lower grees of the Equator and at eleva- reaches. There is a difference of 43 tions nowhere exceeding 1,000 feet Regional Features feet between high and low water above sea level. The region is Terrain and Drainage in the Orinoco. During the latter covered by a variety of plant asso- The Llanos comprise a huge level part of the heavy rainy season, it is ciations broadly termed savanna. to undulating alluvial plain, slop- believed that more than a third of The word was apparently first used the Llanos is inundated. The in 1535 by Oviedo in referring to flooded lands have every appear- the Venezuelan Llanos. In this ance of swamps, being soon clothed paper savannas are regarded as Perspective on a relatively un- with a rank vegetation and with plains whose dominant vegetation developed grazing resource in the water-plant growth (Fig. 2). is grass. However, when the rain- Tropics of South America-the Flooded for months at a time, fall is greater or the soils collect Llanos of Venezuela and Colombia. travel by land becomes impossible and hold more moisture, the sa- Dr. White is Head of the Depart- and human beings must move vanna may support trees growing ment of Geography at Stanford about ill dugouts. close enough to form woodland. In University and a student of Latin Duri$g the dry season,*&>he flow some savannas the grasses are tall, America for many years. Mr. of water is so drastically’ reduced in others short, corresponding ap- Thompson was born in South Amer- that many of the rivers dry up parently to zones of greater or ica and lived part of his life there. into pools and swamps. Some lesser moisture. up co;;lpletely. In this huge natural landscape .. bounded by the Andes Mountains ing south and southeastward from ,‘r Climate and the Orinoco River, the popula- the Andes to the Orinoco. As con- Rhythm . in the rainfall is the tion of both man and domestic sidered here, the region is divided’ outstand&g characteristic of the animals is small and the region is into the Eastern, Central and climate, the year being divided into not of great import. This is puz- Southern Llanos (Fig. 1). two seasons-the dry referred to zling, for superficial consideration The region is traversed by a locally as verano lasting from June of the map indicates that the number of streams having their to March inclusive and the wet- Llanos should be a truly great cattle country. It consists largely of grassland, it is relatively near the sea, from its first occupation by white men it has been used primarily for cattle raising, it is served by the Orinoco-one of South America’s major rivers, and the populations of both Colombia and Venezuela are badly in need of meat produced at home. Further study, however, discloses that neither country is realizing the potentialities of the Llanos for cattle production. It is the purpose 0 200 400 of t)his paper to present the high- M\LEs lights of this great grassland, to point out the reasons for its economic neglect, and to suggest ways FIGIJRE 1. MRP of northern South Anericn showing the subregions of the Llanos.

11 12 C. LASGDON WHITE ASD .JOIIN THOMPSOX

invierno-lasting from .June to Oc- ducrd firrs have yielded a wide clothed with in sparsr, short-grass t,obcr inclusive. April and hZlty, vnrirt,y of plant associat,ions “vu wgctatioo of low nutritional valor. Novcmhrr and Dwxmher are trnrl- t,hc Llaoos (Fig. 3). I~owver, Hew Trach//poyon appcxs to be &ion months. The arrival sod uniformity does not, cherartrrix t,he most rommol~ form of veget,a- duration of thr seasons \&es from t,he region; new should the Llanos tion. Palms, trwn and shrubs are year to year and from place to he rgsrded solely as #‘IL great thinly scattered in the eastern place. III general t,he xet ~ra.s”n monotonous sea of waving grass”. mesa country, while a considerable shortens and the annual rainfall Grass does hold sway in some parts area of monte or chaparral or open diminishes northward. Annual pre- but trees do in others. The grass is wrub forest, overlies the nort,hcrn cipitation varies from 39 inches at of the hunch type and is not, matted half of these plains. Ciudsd Bolivar to 52 inches st as are our prairie and strppe (knrrnlizing on the IAmos San Fernando dc Apure. Nearly grasses. In the Central Llanos grasses, it may he said that thry all of this rain falls during the sir whew the water table is suficiently have low nutritional value. While months hlay to October inclusive. high, as along the Apurr and Portu- the succulent, glrcn ne\v growth at During the dry season the shade gucsa rivers, the grasses arc greeu the beginning of the wet season temperature3 approach maximas in and palatable for stork the year and following fires is eaten hy the the middle and low 90’s. Monthly round. Green meadow also may be stock, the large, coarse mature grasses become hard and unpalata- ble with progression of the dry season. Bwause t,hr Ilitneros believe that liring improves the vegetat,ion, they burn off large arcas during the dry witson. Art,ually this pruc- tier is partly rrsponsiblc for the poor quality of the forage, particularly in thr Eastern Llanos. Hcrc infwior grasses whirh are more resistant to elimination by fires, are replacing the better grasses. One of the biggest hurdles t,” range improvrmcnt t,o date has bern the difficulty in finding grasses other than the nat,ive variet,y t,hnt can stand the extremes of climate.

Causes of the Llanas Them is no agreement among averages arc 10’ to 20’F. lo\\w. m3en as concentric rings of vegeta- botanists, ecologists and geogra- During this season the northrast, tion about an evaporating flood or phers regarding the origin and trade winds blow almost, ~“11. senpagc-created lagoon, but t,he causes of the Llanos <:over. One stsntly making the period more shallow-root,ed plants dry UP school of thought considers the hearable to man than the wet quickly its the vatcr recedes. HOW savanna vegetation to be a climat,ic season. In the latter season, though ever, the coarse, hardy grasses WC climax formation; another as an monthly averages are 4’ to 9’F. able to endure the severe rondi- edaphic climax dependent on spr- lower, the combination of higher tions. cial soil conditions. Both views, relative humidity and of reduced Scattered throughout t,he grassy however, agree that the silwmna air movement results in higher area are swh trees as chaparro, landscapes WPR pre-Columhiall, but sensible tcmprraturrs. Even during IllWXy, alcornoqw and copaibn. that the grasses grew murh taller the hrief spells of dry weather that Streams are almost always borderd then than n”\v. interrupt the wet season, there is by gallery forests. In plavcs occur Schimpcr (1903) defines the cli- little relief from its discomforts. small forests called “matas” by t,he matic requirements of a savanna to natives and h&s of moriches be an annual precipitation of 35 to Natural Vegetatim which foIlox\- strramlets and which %59inches (90&1.50 rm.), an rffPctive The variations in climatr, soils the inhahitantri call “morichales”. 4- to 3.month dry seas”,, and a and terrain alone with man-in- Murh of the Eastern Llanos is range in t,hr mont,hly mean t,erw LL.ZSOP A SE(:LECTF,D GRAZING RESOURCE 13

Another \-ir!v on the distrilmt,ion of SR\~RIIIIIIS holds that, n-e do llot know whether t heir oo~u~wn~! corre- spends to the real ecological UN- ditions. This school asserts that man, through periodic Inmrirrg and grazing, is the cause. A. Aubrevillr (19-19) doubts that, t,here iu a spr- rific savanna climate in the tropics. Myers (1933) regards the Llnnos vegetation as a fire-climax, although he h&eves soil conditions may also he involved. However, so litt,le is known scirnt,ificnlly regarding South American soils t,hat it is unsafe t,o speculate regarding this fnrtor. The authors believe that, the chief d&ermining fact,ors for the savanna cover of the Llanos are not always the same; t,he evidencr of climatic dominance is not rvery- x-here decisive. The range of cli- Occupancy of the Llanos Missionaries first entered the matic conditions under which the Colonial Per,od Llanos near the end of the sixteenth savanna occurs in this part of When the Spaniards arrived in century. They encouraged the In- South Amcrirn, the abrupt bound- this part of the New World, they dians to grow native and intro- ary hetwren forest, and SBV&IIIIR, found the Llanos (particularly the dwed crops, to raise livestock and and t,he presence of savanna eastern half) occupied hy small to develop crafts. Their success is pockets betwren zones of for& all numhrrs of Indians cngngcd in at,tested to by the results-the t,cnd to rhallengc the thesis of patch farming, hunting, fishing and Capuchins had herds numbering climatic theory. It would seem that gathering. Lacking any large her- 50,000 head of cattlc in the Eastern human interference, particularly hivomus animals, however, they Llanos hy 1759, the Jesuits 80,000 fire, has been a major causal factor made virtually no use of the great head by 1767. on this relatively flat,, wind-swept grassy expanses. Even the close The comparatively small effort (dry season) landscape. There can grazing effects of the small Llanos attendant upon animal husbandry bc no doubt that the saranna deer and, on river margins, of the resulted in expansion of secular vegetation has heen much modified capyharas, scarcely had any effect ranching. As white and mestizo by fire. According t,o Myers (1936): ecologically. The Spaniards intro- (mixed h&d) settlers moved into duced close-grazing horses and the Central and Eastern Llanos, cattle. According to reasonably the missions and Indians gradually accurate reports, the first livestock disappeared. Many ranches had were taken into the Central Llanos from 10,000 to 12,000 cattle in the ahout 1550 when n amall herd of early 1700’s as well as many horses horses and cattle became the nu- and mules. Herds in the Guanare Fires undeniably play a dominant &us of a ranch in t,he GuBrico area hecame so large that their role in giving sharp houndaries to ratershed. A decade later the owners knew not how many animals the savannas and have thus favored Gu&rico-Apure x&x-shed was sup- they owned. grasses and herbaceous vegetation porting some 12,000 to 14,000 Rustling and illicit slaughtering at the expense of woody plant,s. cattle and half as many horses. for hides, tallow and dried beef 14 C. LANGDON WHITE AND ,JOHN THOMPSON became serious in the Eastern sands of emaciated animals from the frequent burning of the vegeta- Llanos. Trade in these products the Llanos were fattened, especially tion on the Llanos. Burning is an passed through Barcelona, Santo in and around Valencia and Mara- annual affair and the llaneros do it Tomas de Guiana and other ports cay-gateways to the Llanos. When to improve the quality of the vege- destined for the Lesser, Antilles and Gomez began his political career he tation (they believe burning results the Guianas. Lives&k and their was in comparative poverty; when in palatable young grass) and to products from thee Central Llanss he died his personal fortune was kill ticks. There seems to be some destined I for the I Greater Antilles valued at $200,000,000. grounds for both theories. Accord- moved through’ ’ Puerto Cabello, During recent years cattle num- ing to Bennett et al. (1942), new Coro and Maracaibo. La Guaira, bers in Venezuela have been esti- grass appears within 10 or 12 days though an active port, had ‘too mated at 5,000,OOO head, divided following a fire and the cattle head rough a roadstead for loading live- equally between the Central Llanos out of the old grass towards the stock. and the adjacent half of the Eastern tender grass in the burns. Llanos. The estimate for all of Llanos cattle face more than Nineteenth Century Colombia is 14,500,OOO head and their share of hardships and In 1812, Venezuelan cattle were for the Llanos 750,000. dangers. During floods the herds estimated at 4,800,OOO and horses must be driven to higher ground- and mules at 430,000 and 270,000 ?res&day Ranching to the margins of the foothills and respectively. The herds were seri- The’ ‘plains’ were gradually di- to the low mesas that stand like ously reduced in , size, however, vided ’ into vast estates-cattle islands above the flood. Obviously during the bitter ‘,@ampaigns for ranches r known as hatos. To this the area available for grazing is independence from %$bain : when day most ‘of the hatos remain un- restricted since so much of the private ownership of , Llanos @- fenced and are so huge that the region is flooded. Alligators, electric stock was to all intents atid pur- half-wild cattle roam over them eels and the ferocious and voracious poses disregarded. After Bolivar almost without care. Boundary little fish, the Caribes, all exact established himself ’ at Angostura lines between grants are “notori- their toll. During the dry season, (now Ciudad Bolivar) the livestock ously vague”. These holdings were the tall grasses virtually become on the Llanos were largely rounded organized as feudal units. Since inedible, water is scarce and the up by his agents and sent to the population was sparse, towns few cattle have to move southward to West Indies to pay for the exorbi- and transportation with the outside the damper areas near the Orinoco. tantly priced war supplies pur- world almost lacking, the hatos At this time insects are at their chased on credit from American, had to become as nearly self-sus- worst. The jaguar takes his toll and British and Dutch merchants. The taining as possible. Therefore, countless vultures prey on new-born cattle population dropped from besides cattle and horses, the lands calves. Thus Llanos cattle are 4800,000 head in 1812 to a mere were made to provide crops such as forced to wander far and wide, 250,000 eleven years later. From plantains, corn, beans, yuca (cas- just to remain alive. the termination of this struggle to sava) and native fruits. Some Annual and biannual round-ups the beginning of the Five Years’ villages, usually little more than interrupt the independent existence War (1866-1870), the number of “crossroads,” and a small number of the cattle to permit branding and cattle rose to 6,000,OOO head only of towns sprang up at strategic castration. Many steers are set to toboggan to 3,500,OOO head as a points. Several of these are today aside for trailing to pre-market result of hostilities. In the .1880’s small cities of considerable re- fattening pastures. Sometimes the the number climbed to 8,500,OOO gional importance. stock are rounded up into managea- only to fall again as a result of Cattle ranches on the Llanos are ble groups every week or so and frequent revolutions. A major large, averaging around 3,000 acres. brought into corrals for salt. This factor affecting cattle production For the most part proprietors take practice, together with dipping, is in Venezuela was General Juan little interest in improving their quite recent. Vicente Gomez, who was Venezuela property, pastures or stock. Some Most of the cattle of the Vene- from 1908 until his death in 1935. have installed wells, windmills and zuelan Llanos are raised in the While the number of cattle on the watering troughs but many have states of Apure and Guarico, the Venezuelan Llanos increased during done nothing; it is by no means a two accounting for about two-fifths his regime, he controlled the in- rarity for some animals to walk as of the total. The Colombian Llanos dustry. He and his friends and many as six miles in search of is much less important to the family gradually gained possession water. country’s total cattle production of the lands where tens of thou- Reference was made earlier to than is the case with Venezuela, LLANOS-A NEGLECTED GRAZING RESOURCE 15 for Colombia has several much the very highest quality rather than general, consumption of meat, in better regions-the Caribbean the leggy, late-maturing, weak- both Colombia and Venezuela, is Coastal Plain, the Sabana de Bo- hipped type introduced by many limited chiefly by high prices. The gotit, and the Cauca Valley. stockmen in recent years. masses of the people in neither The criollo is an excellent founda- country can afford costly meat. The Livestock tion animal upon which to build Trails and market centers of The early Spaniards brought with crossbred types. The cross-breeds today are largely those of the past. them to the New World their yield a higher percentage of edible Herds from as far away as the European livestock. The descen- meat when dressed. This is im- Orinoco, Arauca and Apure rivers dants of these European cattle as portant, for the reproductive effi- may be driven for many weeks over found today in the Llanos are ciency (the number of calves raised the braiding grassland trails that known as “native” or “criollo” annually per 100 cows) of Llanos lead in Colombia to Villavicencio (Fig. 2). These early importations cattle is extremely low-less than and lesser pasturing centers at the soon reverted to a semi-wild state 50 percent. foot of the highlands and to Valle but they throve and reproduced Unlike the Argentines of the de la Pascua, Calabozo, San Carlos, rapidly. Some authorities believe Pampas, the Colombians and Vene- Barinas, San Fernando de Apure, that the stock has degenerated over zuelans of the Llanos have shown Valencia, Maracay and elsewhere in t)he past several hundred years be- no interest in Herefords, Shorthorns Venezuela (Fig. 4). In the streets cause of the marked seasonal or Aberdeen-Angus breeds. of Villavicencio one sees herd after changes, the many pests and dis- herd of emaciated cattle which eases, interbreeding and ihe lack of Marketing Activities have just finished their gruelling scientific care and feeding. The There is considerable variation in march and are &&‘ing before beiqg s* early cattle industry here amounted the age, weight and size of marketed driven to Bogot& over a mountain to little more than the periodic cattle. Most animals ready for range approximately 10,000 feet rounding up and slaughtering of a slaughter are 4 to 6 years of age high. Annually some 35,000 head, certain number of animals mainly and carcass weights average 375 perhaps 3 percent of the national for hides and tallow. pounds. annual slaughter, make the six-day Actually the criollo cattle have Most llaneros, not yet con- climb to Bogot&. Feed is so scarce adapted themselves quite eff ec- vinced that it is wise to slaughter along the way that as much as 20 tively to the physical environment, younger animals, fail to realize percent shrinkage occurs. Similar becoming relatively resistant to the that by so doing they would reduce results occur with the smaller an- pests and local diseases that flourish the number of cattle on halos nual flow of cattle which enters largely uncontrolled. They have thereby enabling the youngest ani- more northerly areas from the learned the ways of the wild animals to get more feed, gain weight Llanos. mals that prey upon their calves. faster and render greater profit to A similar situation holds for They appear to sense the appropri- their owners. Venezuela. Depreciations in weight ate time during floods to leave the The animals destined for slaugh- resulting from difficult drives into lowland for high ground. And they ter come from the Llanos without the Venezuelan highlands result in are able to subsist wholly on what any special fattening. They are 20 percent weight loss. These losses nature provides. Possession of such lean, their dressing percentage is are in addition to the estimated 5 self-reliance and hardiness is a low and their meat is of low quality percent through straying and genuine asset in a region where. -tough and fibrous. drowning. Some animals are lost to survival is as difficult as it is in the Changes are taking place, how- alligators, jaguars and electric eels tropical Llanos. ever, in the manner of marketing as the herds cross rivers. Another Mature criollo cattle are small, cattle. Some animals are hauled by 10 percent of the herd possibly long-horned, slow-maturing and truck from points where good high- reaches the end of the trail lame or vari-colored (Fig. 2). Crossing with ways meet the trails and some are sick. It is little wonder that such Zebu stock is resulting in larger, shipped by river steamer on the inroads occur, for the treks are hardier and generally more vigorous Orinoco. One-fourth of the meat made over rough and dusty trails animals. Zebu cattle have a higher consumed in Caracas is now flown where forage is meager and water heat tolerance than European cattle in as sides of beef. The cost of in short supply. and this characteristic carries over living in this boom city is the Not only are the drives costly in to the progeny. They also show highest in the world and many of terms of depreciation in the animals greater resistance to insect pests. the people living there can afford but a number of men must be em- Imported Zebu bulls should be of to pay a high price for beef. In ployed for a week or more before 16 C. LANGDON WHITE AND JOHN THOMPSON the market is reached. On the incentive for producing meat. On ment, for control then would be Llanos herds are managed in groups the other hand, the ranchers seem possible. of 300 to 400 head but those driven to share a traditional disinterest in The incidence of diseases and over the mountains are broken up stJock and range improvement. This pests in the Llanos of Colombia into units of 80 and 100 head. A is indeed unfortunate in countries probably is somewhat higher than mounted corporal and three or four characterized by rapidly growing in Venezuela. Control of infesta- peons on foot are required to handle industrial and urban populations tions such as aftosa and tick fever each of the smaller groups (Fig. 4). with increasing requirements for and general improvements of range These cattle may be given a chance beef. It is believed that both Co- and stock will occur as the govern- to fatten near market towns but a lombia and Venezuela have suffi- ment restores order to the region. I- or 2-day wait before killing is cient cattle to supply domestic Here, as in Venezuela, improved common. Cropland and dairy re- needs; the big problem is to get the roads, trails and watering facilities quirements near urban centers are animals from the remote Llanos to would be beneficial to the beef tending to eliminate some of the the consuming centers. cattle industry. beef-fattening areas, particularly in The government road-building Improvement of the transporta- the Valencia Basin of Venezuela. programs and the work of experi- tion network would also be a real One of the principal fattening areas ment stations and agricultural col- benefit to commercial agriculture along the margins of the Llanos. Improved irrigation facilities in certain favored areas and the preparation of new cropland would facilitate commercial agriculture. However, the costly mechanized operations required are beyond the means of the private land holders. Then too, the llanero’s preferred position astride a horse will be hard to exchange for a job behind a mule or on a tractor.

FIGURE 4. Criollo cattle arriving in Maracay, a principal fattening area, after the Conclusions long drive from Apure in the Central Llanos. They have travelled only a short dis- It has been shown that though (Photograph by James H. Kempton) tance on a hard surface road. the Llanos do furnish forage for a considerable proportion of Colom- in Venezuela is the area south of onies are steps in the direction of bian and Venezuelan cattle, the Lake Maracaibo in the State of greater production and improved number supported is relatively Zulia. quality of beef. However, there small considering the size of the Large, modern meat-packing es- could be and should be more vigor region. The authors do not foresee tablishments are lacking. In fact, in the governments’ efforts. The a bright future for the cattle industry few facilities for refrigeration exist creditable campaign that has been for a long time, if ever. The main except in the large cities. In Vene- waged against aftosa (foot-and- reasons for this pessimism are: (1) zuela the largest number of animals mouth disease) might be extended the tropical location and low alti- handled at one point in a 24-hour to the elimination of other common tude of the region; (2) the marked period is 200. The bulk of the beef infections and the control of pests. rhythm in drought and rainfall is killed, cooled and quickly de- The governments could assist which imposes a serious handicap livered to market in ventilated greatly in improvement of watering by forcing cattle to the higher trucks. In both countries the con- facilities (ponds and wells) in areas during floods and to water sumer prefers fresh-killed beef. ranching areas, particularly along Wastage obviously is appalling. holes and river banks during dry the cattle trails. Many cattle die of seasons; (3) the pestiferous insects Current Problems Affecting thirst during the dry season and which, at times and in certain areas, Llanos Economy yet water could be had at a reason- make life almost unbearable to man Ranchers claim that government able depth by drilling. Perhaps the and beast alike; (4) the widespread price-fixing and regulations so inter- enforcement of fencing laws will distribution of the cattle tick, fere with the movement of stock to lead to required forage conserva- screw worm and guano de monte; market as to have almost killed the tion, pasture and stock improve- (5) the poor transportation facilities LLANOS-A NEGLECTED GRAZING RESOURCE 17

(there are few good roads, no rail- uality, his philosophy of accepting towns. Should these hurdles ulti- ways, and even the Orinoco was what comes and making the best of mately be surmounted, cattle rais- not a good highway until recently it, and his lack of progressiveness. ing on the Llanos might become a dredged to Puerto Ordaz); (6) the What improvement in the situa- business enterprise rather than just inferiority of native grass pastures tion is possible? The cattle industry a way of life. and the difficulties encountered in could be made more productive and planting such introduced grasses as profitable by: (1) improving pas- LITERATURE CITED Guinea, Para, Napier, Guatemala tures (difficult and costly but not AUBREVILLE, A. 1949. Anciennetb de la and Natal, which can be grown only impossible) ; (2) supplying nitrogen destruction de la couverture fores- t&e primitive de 1’Afrique tropicale. on fertile, well-watered soils of and other essential minerals to the Bull. Agricole du Congo Belge small valleys ; (7) governmental soils; (3) introducing more fencing; 40(2) : 1347-1352. interference and civil strife; (8) (4) installing more windmills; (5) BENNETT, H. H. et al. 1942. Land conditions in Venezuela and their rela- the un-scientific methods of han- reducing fires, particularly in the tions to agriculture and human wel- dling the range and cattle with Eastern Llanos ; (6) growing feed fare. Soil Conservation Mission to consequent unsatisfactory results; crops adapted to local conditions Venezuela, U. S. Soil Conservation Service, Washington, D. C. (9) the uncontrolled fires which for fattening the range animals; (7) MYERS, J. G. 1933. Notes on the vegeta- annually destroy the better soils building more and better highways tion of the Venezuelan Llanos. Jour. and vegetation, fences and houses; into the Llanos; (8) improving the Ecology 21: 335-349. ----. 1936. Savannah and forest vegeta- (10) the difficulty of securing credit quality of the livestock and giving t>ion of the Interior Guiana Plateau. on livestock; (11) the antiquated the animals better care; (9) con- Jour. Ecology 24 : 162-184. methods of handling meat; and (12) structing more slaughter houses in SCHIMPER, A. F. W. 1903. Plant geography upon a physiological basis. the llanero himself-his individ- the vicinity of strategically located Oxford. 839 pp.

AnA pproach to the Study of grasses, the (tribes, genera, and species); and (3) the knowledge of the distribu- “Tribal Triangle” tion, habitat preference and economic importance of the major FRANK W. GOULD range grasses. Associate Professor, Department of n”(_;ngeand I orestry, A. k This paper is concerned primarily M. C allege of Texas, C allege Station, Texas with the second phase, specifically,

GROSTOLOGY, the science of The Gramineae not only is one of the taxonomic relationships of the A grass classification, is an essen- the largest of the families of flower- subfamilies and tribes. According tial prerequisite to the study and ing plants, but it also is one of the to the system of the great American practice of range management. Of most highly specialized in floral agrostologist, Dr. A. S. Hitchcock, prime importance to the range man- characteristics. The familiar grass the genera of grasses are grouped ager is a basic understanding of the spikelet is a greatly reduced and into 14 tribes. Ten of these tribes kinds, characteristics and qualities of contracted flowering branch bearing are placed in the subfamily Festu- important range grasses. For proper minute, reduced flowers protected coideae and four in the subfamily assimilation and retention of in- by scale-like floral bracts. The Panicoideae. The tribes are com- forrriation about grasses, it is ad- nature of the spikelet and of its prised of morphologically similar visable that the range manager parts, and the arrangement of the and supposedly closely related gen- undertake more of a study of agros- spikelets in the inflorescence are era. Due to lack of knowledge of oology than the mere memorization the principal bases for classification actual relationships, and because tf names and recognition of speci- of grasses. continuous evolutionary processes mens. He should become well ac- As a systematic science, the study have produced grasses that do not quainted with the basic framework of range agrostology includes three fit nicely into any taxonomic niche, of grass classification and should phases: (1) the recognition of vege- the placement of some genera in one obtain satisfactory concepts of tative and reproductive structural or another tribe is controversial. Dr. tribes, genera and species, and the units; (2) the learning of names and Hitchcock realized that his system interrelationships of these groups. characteristics of the important taxa was not entirely natural nor com- LLANOS-A NEGLECTED GRAZING RESOURCE 17

pletely satisfactory. In the publica- “primitive” tribes, namely the tain groups of the tribe Festuceae. tion “Genera of Grasses of the Bambuseae, Festuceae, and Ave- The Zoysieae is a highly “artificial” United States”, Hitchcock (1935) neae. The distinguishing features of tribe of tropical and subtropical noted, these tribes are : grasses whose affinities are mainly Bamboo tribe, BAMBUSEAE. Culms with the Chlorideae and the Festu- “Most of the genera of grasses fall woody; plants not flowering ceae. The concept of the Zoysieae naturally into one of the two series and fruiting annually. as herein treated is based on the of subfamilies. The remaining few are rather arbitrarily assigned to one or Oat tribe, AVENEAE. Culms not genus Hilaria. The distinguishing the other series. In the same manner, woody; plants flowering annu- features of the three tribes of Areas most of the genera may assemble into ally ; glumes exceeding the 2a and 2b are : distinct and well-marked tribes, lowermost floret ; lemmas Curlymesquite tribe, ZOYSIEAE. but several are not closely allied to awned dorsally. Infloresence a terminal bilateral the other genera in the tribe to which they are assigned but are so placed Fescue tribe, FESTUCEAE. Culms spike or spicate raceme; spike- for convenience in classification.” not woody; plants flowering lets disarticulating in clusters

The “Tribal Triangle” (Figure 1) has been developed to show relationships between the grass tribes of Hitchcock, and to minimize the memorization of series of characters in learning the tribes. Two sides of the Tribal Triangle, the lines separating Area 1 from Area 3 and Area 3 from Areas 2a, 2b and 4b, are based on the major lines of evolution in the grass. family: (1) the reduction in the spikelet from several perfect florets to one. (2) the modification of the inflorescence from a panicle to a spike or a series of spicate branches. The third side of the triangle repre- sents the principal difference between the subfamilies: the reduction FIG. 1. The Tribal Triangle. in the spikelet of the Panicoideae to a single perfect floret with a single annually ; glumes not exceeding from the continuous inflores- reduced (staminate or sterile) floret the lowermost floret or if so the cence axis. below it. The placement of tribes on lemmas not awned dorsally. Barley tribe, HORDEAE. Inflores- the division lines between areas in- In Areas 2a and 2b are those cence a terminal bilateral spike dicates the occurrence of grasses grasses of the Subfamily Festu- or spicate raceme; spikelets in these tribes with the character- coideae in which the inflorescence falling separately or with joints istics of both areas. has been reduced to spike, spicate of a disarticulating inflores- Needless to say, although the raceme or a series of spicate cence axis. . majority of our range grasses fit branches. As this type of evolution- Grama tribe, CHLORIDEAE. In- well into this scheme, there are ary reduction apparently has taken florescence of two or more exceptions such as tall oatgrass place independently in a number of (occasionally one) lateral, uni- (Arrhenatherum elatius), in which relatively unrelated groups, the lateral spicate branches. the spikelets are 2-flowered with a tribes in this area are not altogether In Area 3 are those grasses of the perfect floret above and a staminate natural, that is, they probably are subfamily Festucoideae with panic- floret below. comprised of both closely related ulate inflorescences and with a In Area 1 of the Tribal Triangle and distantly related genera. single fertile floret per spikelet. With are grouped the most unspecialized Grasses of the tribes Chlorideae and the exception of the small tribe and thus hypothetically the most Hordeae are interrelated with cer- Phalarideae, the spikelets of these GRASSES : THE TRIBAL TRIANGLE 19

grasses do not have reduced florets has close affinities with the Andro- attempt is made to completely sum- above or below the fertile one. The pogoneae. Grasses of the subfamily marize the characteristics of these four tribes of Area 3 may be dis- Panicoideae are remarkably uniform groups as they are treated thor- tinguished as follows : in the principal spikelet character- oughly and adequately by Agnes Canarygrass tribe, PHALARIDEAE. that of the single perfect floret with Chase in her excellent introductory Reduced florets (staminate or a single sterile or staminate floret grass study “First Book of Grasses” sterile) present below the per- below. The distinguishing features (1922), and by A. S. Hitchcock in fect one. of the tribes in Areas 4a and 4b are : the Manual of Grasses of the Time thy tribe, AGROSTIDEAE.Re- Millet tribe, PANICEAE. Glumes United States (1951). The Tribal duced florets not present below thinner and less firm than the Triangle follows Hitchcock’s classi- the perfect one; spikelets bi- fertile lemma. fication system and is based on sexual ; glume well developed. Bluestem tribe, ANDROPOGONEAE. morphological characteristics and Rice tribe, ORYZEAE. Reduced Glumes thicker and firmer lines of morphological evolution. florets not present below the than the fertile lemma; spike- Structural characters, although not perfect one ; spikelets bisexual ; lets usually in pairs of one always reliable indicators of genet- glumes reduced. perfect and one staminate or ical relationships, provide the best Indian rice tribe, ZIZANIEAE. sterile. practical basis for grass classifica- Reduced florets not present Corn tribe, TRIPSACEAE. Glumes tion. below the perfect one; spike- thicker and firmer than the LITERATURE CITED lets unisexual ; glumes absent. fertile lemma; male and female The two principal tribes of Areas spikelets on separate parts of CHASE, AGNES. 1922. First book of grasses. MacMillan Co., N. Y. 121 pp. 4a and 4b, the Paniceae and the the inflorescence or plant. HITCHCOCK, A. S. 1936. The genera of Andropogoneae, are relatively Molassesgrass tribe, MELINIDEAE. grasses of the United States with “good” tribes, both in respect to Glumes and fertile lemma about special reference to the economic species. U. S. Dept. Agr. Bull. 772. morphological characteristics and equal in thickness and firmness. 302. pp. genetical relationships. The small The Tribal Triangle is presented . 1951. Manual of the grasses of’the United States. U. S. Dept: Agr. Misc. tribe Tripsaceae, well known for its as an aid to the learning of critical Publ. 200.1051 pp. (2nd ed., revised cultivated maize or corn, Zea mays, subfamily and tribal characters. No by Agnes Chase)

FIRST KODACHROME SLIDE CONTEST

Eighth Annual Meeting of the American Society of Range Management

San Jose, California, January &X&3, 1956

Society members are invited to enter Kodachrome slides they will be displayed for competition, with awards for the that they have taken in two classes: three slides placed highest in each class and the top slide of 1. Range condition class the display. 2. Wildlife of the range Rnles of the photograph contest shall prevail with regard Kodachrome slides may be 2 x 2, or larger, mounted or un- to typed description, contestant’s name and address, and his mounted. Contestants may enter one slide in each class. responsibility to take the slides to and from the display booth. Slides will be projected at an evening session. Thereafter, -Les Alhee, Chairman, Slide Contest tribution of the plant population is Fertilization of Mountain Meadows in extremely variable with salt grass (Distichlis stricta) dominant 011 Eastern Oregon alkaline knolls and wire rush (Jun- cus balticus) dominant in the deeper CLEE S. COOPER and W. A. SAWYER swales. Areas between these ex- Agronomist and Superintendent, Squaw Butte-Harney Range tremes are composed of varying and Livestock Experiment Station’, Burns, Oregon amounts of sedges, rushes, grasses and forbs. Most of the sedge and ATIVE flood meadows occupy this period. During the winter rush species are of a rhizomatous N nearly one half million acres feeding period the low quality nature and form a compact sod of land in eastern Oregon and about meadow hay does not provide an with root penetration seldom ex- three and one half million acres of adequate wintering ration. These ceeding twelve inches. land in the western United States. periods of low nutrition may cause Meadows are irrigated by wild These lands serve as the wintering low calf crops and result in unpro- flooding in the spring for a period grounds for cattle in the sagebrush- ductive dry cows being carried on of from six to twelve weeks. The bunchgrass country and provide the range. Higher calf crops result- period of flooding is dependent the major portion of hay for feeding from better nutrition would upon rate, time and amount of ing. Hay production from these allow more beef to be produced spring runoff and usually begins in lands is vital to the welfare of the from the same number of cows and April and terminates in mid-June. livestock industry and has a pro- thus allow more efficient use of Active growth ceases within two to found influence on all phases of the available range forage. three weeks after the recession of livestock operation. Ranchers have become increas- the flood. Hay production from mountain ingly concerned over an apparent Harvesting begins in the forepart meadows has a direct influence on decline in hay production. Yields of July and little regrowth is made the management of rangeland. have declined to an average of after harvest. Cattle are grazed on Many operators are ‘forced to turn approximately one ton per acre and the aftermath stubble in the fall their cattle onto the range too the quality of hay is low enough to and are fed on the meadowlands early in the spring, due to a short- make the winter feeding of a pro- throughout the winter feeding age of hay and due to the flooded tein supplement advisable. period. condition of the meadows. Heavy Because of the importance of spring use is thought to be a major native hay meadows to range Experimental Procedure contributing factor in the deteriora- cattle operations, trials were con- Four levels of nitrogen and of tion of our sagebrush-bunchgrass ducted to find the value of fertilizer phosphorus fertilizer were applied rangelands. Longer spring hay feed- applications to yield and quality of alone and in combination to plots ing could furnish one form of relief the crop and to the occurrence of 45 feet long and 12 feet wide. Each for this critical period. regrowth forage. of the sixteen resulting treatments Hay production also has a direct was replicated four times. Nitrogen influence on livestock nutrition Description of the Area levels, applied as ammonium ni- which may indirectly influence The meadow on which the experi- trate, were 0, 20, 40 and 60 pounds range management. As little re- ment was conducted lies in Harney of actual nitrogen per acre. Phos- growth is made after hay harvest, Valley, seven miles south of Burns, phorus levels, applied as treble cattle grazing on meadow ‘after- Oregon, at an elevation of 4,100 super phosphate, were 0, 40, 80 and math in the fall are on a low plane feet. This meadow is typical of the 120 pounds of Pz05 per acre. The of nutrition and it is often necessary major portion of native flood fertilizers were surface applied with to provide bunched hay during meadows in eastern Oregon. a three foot Gandy fertilizer 1 Squaw Butte-Harney Range and Soils of the area are medium or spreader in early November of 1951 Live&o& Experiment Station is jointly fine textured. They are generally and 1952. operated by the Bureau of Land Manage- mildly calcareous and slightly to ment, U. S. Department of the Interior, Samples for yield determinations and Oregon Agricultural Experiment moderately alkaline. were taken by mowing one swath Station, Oregon State College, Corvallis, The vegetation is composed of 38 inches wide through the length Oregon. sedges (Carex spp.), rushes (Juncus of each plot. The field weight of This report is published as Technical water loving grasses and each plot was recorded and samples Paper No. 842 with approval of the SPPJ, Director, Oregon Agricultural Experiment forbs. These species form a com- were taken from each plot for oven Station. plex plant community. The dis- drying. Yields were calculat,ed on 20 delaying harvest, until about, one half of the SPY~ heads of whitc-tip clover have turned brown, will allow for ample seed dissemination and will materially increase clover production and residual responsr to phosphorus. Yields averagrd .3-l of a t,on higher in 1953 than in 195“. This difference may he attributed partly to the srlcct,ion of a more produr- tive site for the 1953 trials. Two mai” fnrtorn influencing prodnc- an own dry hasis plus 10% mois- a position of dominswr in the tivity were the absence of salt ture. Samples taken for moisture vegetutivc composition. grass knolls on the 1953 site sod a determinations were analyzed for Residual yield increases from rrude protein content. the 1951 application (Table 2) are longer Hood period. The 1953 site of importance in considering phos- was suhmcrgcd for a period of 105 Results phorus fcrtiliaation. As in the initial days as compared to 75 days for yields there was no significant ill- t,he 1952 site. Apparently, for this Yields Nitrogen, phosphorus and years were ull signifirant S”UK~S of variation in this nperimcnt. Interac- tions hetwrmn nitrogen and phosphorus, or hctwcen rlitrogen or phosphws and years \v?re n”t significant. Nit,r”xen fcrtiliael inrreasrd yields of hay on? ton prr arrc at the 60 pound prr itrre rate of application (Tnhle 1). There is no itldi?at,i”n t,hat rate of application was high wlough in this st,udy to rrsolt iu rcdrwcd cfhrirtwy (If nitwgw ntilizntion by this forage. I~Gdual yipId effects from nit,r”grn frrt,ilizcr mere not apparent 02” year after application. Phosphorus inrreased hay yields “1~ third “f a ton per acre (Table 1) with no significant benefits “c- curring from applications ahovr 40 pounds P,O, per acre. crea8c fmm rates of applicst,ion water-loving type of vegetation, Yield increases from phosphorus above 40 pounds P,O, per acre. long flood seasons are advantageous. frrt,ilization are mainly due to Yield inrrwses wcrc higher in Fertilizers did not stimulate re- stimulation of the annual white-tip the first year tharl in the swond growth on plots after harvesting. ~~I”vcr (TriJoZium mriqatum). 011 year following fcrtiliation. As first Howrvrr, on an area on which phosphorus-fert,ilieed plots this year yields were taken prior to white-tip clover has been increased clover at,t,ainz+d a maximum height seed disseminat,ion of white-tip through proper fertilization and “f 30 inches x8 compared to 5 clover, it, is hrlieved that the de- harvest practices a stimulation of inches or less on unfcrtilieed plots. rreas~ i” rrsponse is due to a re- regrowth has been observed. Indications are that, hy proper duced ?lover stand rather than t,o Crude Protein Content managements and fertilization this decrrascd availability of phos- The crude protein content of clover may he increased to occupy phorus. It is now believed that meadow hay wits not affcctcd by 22 CLEE S. COOPER AND W. A. SAWYER

Table 2. Initial and residual yield Clover Production nitrogen per acre, and phosphorus increase* from phosphorus applied The stimulation of clover pro- as treble super phosphate at 0, 40, in November 1951 duction from phosphorus fertiliza- 80 and 120 pounds of P20s per acre.

Pounds P205 applied tion is of major interest and im- Nitrogen increased hay yields at per acre Year portance. The legume component all rates of applications with an in- 0 ( 40 1 80 1 120 of meadow hay at present is so crease of one ton per acre occurring IbsJA. small that is has little effect on the with the 60 pound per acre rate of 1952 Initial 0 750 821 724 quality of *hay. Ranchers state that application. There were no addi- 1953 Residual 0 402 332 476 in earlier years there was a larger tional benefits from nitrogen fer- -__-- proportion of clover in their tilization one year after application. Total 0 1152 1153 1200 meadow hay. Declining fertility Phosphorus increased hay yields one third of a ton per acre in the L.S.D. at 5% level of probability for and earlier cutting may be the comparing total yield increase, 416 lbs. main causes for the decline in clover year of application, and one fifth of * Each value is the average yield production. a ton per acre in the year following increase from that treatment at four The phenomenal response of application. No additional benefits levels of nitrogen fertilization, applied white-tip clover to phosphate fer- were obtained from phosphorus ap- November 1951. tilization suggests the need for plication rates higher than 40 special management and fertility pounds P205 per acre. fertilization in this experiment; practices to increase this component Phosphorus stimulated the however, on an area where the of meadow hay. growth of white-tip clover. In- clover composition has been increased to 80 percent through Table 4. Initial and residual yield increases and P efficiency of fertilization and delayed cutting four levels of phosphorus applied in November 1951 __~ the crude protein content was 12.99 Yield Increase in LbsJHay Per Acre P Efficiency, Pounds Application Rate, percent on August 1, 1953, as com- - of Hay Increase per Pounds PnOa per acre Residuals of Pound of P2Oa 1951 Application Total pared to 6.50 percent for untreated 1951 Application rush-sedge meadow hay. 0 0 0 0 0.0 Discussion 40 750 402 1150 28.8 80 821 332 1153 14.4 Site Selection 120 724 476 12G 10.0 -___-_. Observations of fertilized plots indicate that care must be used in Economic Benefits of Fertilization creased clover production, through selecting sites for fertilization. On With nitrogen valued at 15 cents the use of phosphorus and manage- plots located on alkaline knolls and a pound and hay at $20.00 per ton, ment practices, resulted in an in- in the deeper swales in which water 15 cents expended for nitrogen crease in crude protein content of was standing at a depth of one produced 35 cents worth of hay hay of 6.49 percent. foot or more during the growing (Table 3). Site selection was important as season, response to fertilizers was Residual yield increases should response was poor on alkaline poor. Maximum response was ob- be considered when calculating re- knolls and in the deep swales which tained on areas intermediate to turns from phosphorus application were submerged to a depth of more these two extremes. (Table 4). With phosphorus at 10 than one foot. cents per pound and applied at 40 Additions of both nitrogen and Table 3. Yield increase and nitrogen pounds per acre, and hay at $20.00 phosphorus were an economical efficiency of four levels of nitrogen per ton, 10 cents expended for fertilization applied in November means of increasing hay production. phosphorus produced 28 cents 1951 and 1952 worth of hay. Acknowledgment Nitrogen Effi- Application Yield Increase, ciency, Pounds hay Rate, Pounds Pounds hay increase per pound Summary The authors wish to make ac- N per acre per acre of N applied Nitrogen and phosphorus fer- knowledgment to Dr. J. R. Haag, 0 0 0 tilizers were applied on native hay Head, Department of Agricultural 20 710 35.5 meadows in eastern Oregon in Chemistry, Oregon State College, 1375 34.4 40 November 1951 and 1952. Nitrogen and his staff, for their splendid 60 1988 33.1 was applied as ammonium nitrate cooperation in conducting the crude L.S.D. at 5% level of probability, 538. at 0, 20,40 and 60 pounds of actual protein analyses in this experiment from this area and very quickly. Grazing-Past and Present in my Locality However, the shoe started to pinch us. It was seven or eight years KENT WHIPPLE after the act had become a law, Pahranagat Valley High School, Alamo, Neva4a that all livestock owners in District $4 were called into an important MAGINE yourself viewing this were very much aware of the fact meeting. I dramatic picture in the year that something had to be done. In My mother was representing the 1929, one mile north of a prosperous 1930, Henry Wallace, later Secre- Murry Whipple Estate at the western cattle ranch: A well- tary of Agriculture under Pres. meeting. She, with all the other dressed cattle man is talking to a Roosevelt, published an article in livestock owners, was amazed at camp tender standing at the camp the Saturday Evening Post on “The the statistical data of every in- watching his boss’s sheep, which are Western Open Ranges.” His was dividual spread, mapped in full grazing for miles around on this the first suggestion for federal scale on a large wall. For several beautiful ranch-two herds con- control. years prior to this meeting, quali- sisting of 4,000 head. You hear the In 1934, Senator Taylor from fied government officials had cattle man say, “When are you Wyoming, and Senator Isaacs from quietly gone about the district moving on?” The tender says, “No making a survey of facts. They got speak English.” The rancher says, information from the county audi- “This is the second time I have told tor, clerk and assessor’s offices, and NEVADA CONTEST WINNER you to leave. You have been here they actually lived on and studied for a week. Now I mean it! Move This article won first place in an the open range. on! Get out of here!” The tender essay contest sponsored in 1954 Much of this information led to replies, “No speak English.” Turn- by the Nevada Section of the protests and heavy arguments- ing away, the cattle man states Society for high school students. even to the pulling of coats in the “You’ll be arrested!” The. tender The contest topic was “Grazing- meetings. However, democracy replies, “No speak English.” Past and Present in My Locality”. proved invulnerable-people could The rancher immediately calls disagree without becoming enemies. the Sheriff who says he will be out There were many, many hearings as soon as possible. In the mean- Idaho proposed the bill which is and protests, but eventually a ten- time, the Sheriff contacts the owner now called the Taylor Grazing Act. year permit was granted to users of of the sheep, who lives in another Its purpose was “to stop injury to the range. Each year a group of state. A week passes before the the public grazing lands by pre- officers would be elected to a authorities take any direct action to venting overgrazing and soil de- governing grazing board known as remove the sheep. When they terioration ; to provide for their the Advisory Board of the district. finally do, the sheep man gladly orderly use, improvement and de- Much power lies in their hands. pays the $200 fine for violating the velopment; to stabilize the livestock The board would comprise repre- law which prohibits anyone from industry dependent upon the public sentatives of sheep and cattlemen grazing livestock within one mile of range.” from the sub-divisions within the a spring. He has had 15 days graz- In 1936, my dad was running district. The grazier would sit as a ing for 4,000 head of sheep at a cattle in what is now White River member of the board, with no cost of only $200. and Cave Valley units of Taylor power to vote, but could act with a This incident happened year Grazing District #4. The area was veto. Each permittee must make after year, until the rancher was crowded with 30,000 and 40,000 application for a designated pat- provoked into using his horse whip out-of-state sheep every winter. tern on which to run each year. He on a camp tender, who for weeks Naturally, the cattle were suffering. must pay a grazing fee for cattle had postponed his departure by the My dad talked with other cattle and sheep. Each permit is measured phrase, “No speak English.” This men and encouraged and urged in terms of A. U. M.‘s or animal white sage flat was used by the them to join us in petitioning to be unit months. The amount of A. U. cattle rancher for spring grazing taken into the Taylor Grazing M.‘s owned was broken into sea- and calving. The feud between District #4. We were accepted. sonal use in percentages. this rancher and the sheep men We realized that this wasn’t ex- All this government control was almost led to murder, many times. actly what we wanted; never-the- aggravating to men who had oper- County, state and federal officials less many sheep were eliminated ated with a free hand heretofore.

23 24 KENT WHIPPLE

But something had to be done, and shared equally between the govern- regular program basis such as: the livestock men agreed that ment and the permittees. Many cattleguard construction, spring although government control had a water holes, wells, reservoirs and developments, reservoir construc- long way to go before perfection, it pipe lines were installed. Brushing, tion and construction of water had bettered the situation. reseeding and fencing followed. spreader systems. Range control in this locality has There was a real program of utiliza- A twelve-year range conservation been a gradual process. At first, tion and progression in these first and improvement plan has been only people who desired and peti- years. formulated for different sections of tioned for it were placed under Everything with the sheepmen Grazing District A 4. The plan has Taylor Grazing. Some in, and some and cattlemen went smoothly till been worked out with the U. S. out, did not prove successful, how- the drought of 1952-53-then the Soil Conservation Service for the ever, so the government took a common expression “old dog eat planning and treatment of private firm hand. They demanded that dog” was recognized everywhere. lands located within the 637,000- every owner of water rights or The government, however, came to acre major portion of the water- operator on open range belong to the rescue of livestock owners with shed. Also, private allotments are Taylor Grazing or take a rental the drought feeding program. being worked out. My brother and lease on the open range. There was The Bureau of Land Manage- I are young, but we look forward much adverse reaction, but it was ment in District # 4 has used the to reaping the benefits of our graz- a government demand. funds of grazing fees collected from ing and soil conservation practices. At first, our area-just north of its district for improvements within In the past, our forefathers Hiko and the Coal Valley area, the district. This improvement reaped all the value from the free, with a line extending northeast of program, aided by private con- open ranges, but due to the abuse Hiko to the six mile area-belonged tributions from licensed livestock of overgrazing and climatic condi- to Taylor Grazing. After the new operators, has been carried on since tions, government range manage- law, “Taylor Grazing-or lease”, June 30, 1953, with extensive ment became a necessity. Many all the range south of .Hiko was ad- range reseeding and fencing. One problems arose by its acquisition, mitted and designated as Grazing 6,800 acre field, which formerly but government control, which at District $5. The offices for this supported big sage and other low- first horrified the free operator, has district were located at Las Vegas. value livestock feed, has been the prospect of beginning the Immediately, range development plowed, seeded and fenced. Other “Golden Age” of grazing in my progressed : The expenses were benefits have been carried out on a locality.

PHOTOGRAPH CONTEST

Eighth Annual Meeting of the American Society of Range Management

San Jose, California, January ,%-28, 1966

*Membersof the Society may enter photographs that they frames. A description, 50 words or less in length, typed on a have taken under any of the following six classes: separate sheet, should be attached to the photo mount to be 1. Range types. visible. Also, the contestant’s name and address should be 2. Range condition (including fence line scenes). attached but not visible to the voters until after the competi- 3. Individual plants. tion. 4. Seeded ranges. Entries will be numbered and voted upon by members at- 5. Grazing scenes showing utilization of particular range tending the meeting to determine three highest placing within plants by livestock or wild life. each class and three highest for the entire exhibit. 6. Color pictures. Photographs are to be taken to and from the display booth The first five classes are for black and white photographs, by the contestant or someone he has designated who attends 8 by 10 inches or larger, with non-glossy surface. The color the meeting. An individual may have a maximum of six prints should be 3 by 4 inches or larger. All entries should be entries.--Donald R. Cornelius, Chairman, Displays and Con- mounted with borders at least 3 inches wide, but without tests Committee. Description of Area Supplemental Feeding of Range Cattle in Approximately 60 pcrccnt of the Longleaf-Slash Pine Forests of Georgia’ 22.5 million wres in thr Coastal Plain of Cvorgia is clnssificd as forrst land. Topography of the Coastal Plain varies from grntly rolling to nearly flat. Soils are sandy in texture, mildly to strongly arid and low in fertility. The frost,. on many years ixttlc grazing factors, such as reduction of fuel free period averages 245 days and F has prwailed in the longleaf- and improvement of pine rcgemxa- nnnunl precipitation is about 48 slash pine forest, ranges of Georgia tion, in determining when and inches. Grazing is most preralent and contrihutrd greatly to the herf mhrthcr to hum (MrColley 1950). on upland areas vhirh support supply of the region. The limiting Even with horning, livestock variable st,ands of second gro\\-th factor in href production “n these production is limited unless addi- longlcaf (Pinus palustris) and slash rangrs is quality of forage rather ti”na1 required nutrients and min- pine (Pinus rlliottii). Areas whirh than quantity. Except for two or ~-rnlsare made available. These may have light to medium stands of three months during the year, the he supplied by improved summer timher produce abundant grazahlr forage is gcncrnlly dcficicrlt in pastures, protein concentrates, am- herbage, whereas it is negligible protein, phosphorus and czdcium. 11ua1 winter pastures, field glcan- under dens” stands. Major spccics Beef cattle can subsist without itags, hay, sugarcane and grain. of grasses on upland which con- supplemental feeding hut calf crops Mineral mixtures may he self-fed trihnte the greater portion of the are ver.y small, death losses high, separately the year round. forage, inchlde pineland t,hreeawn and replacement rcquircmcnts large Experiments were conducted IICM (~rislida stricla), Curt&s dropseed (Biswell, et al. 1942; Brasington Alapahs, Georgia, from 1948 (Sporobolus eurtissii), blurstems 1949; Csmphell and Rhodes 1944; through 1962, to investigate the (An~wogon spp.), carpetgrass Shepherd, e1 al. 19.53). effect of year-round supplemental (~1zonopu.s a&is) atld various Increased cattle production as feeding as compared to fall and panicurns (Panicurn spp.). Broad- measured hy larpw calf crops and winter supplemental feeding of leaved herbs are relat,ivety unim- reducrd death losses of cows is range cattle, and to comparc im- primarily dependent upon better proved pasture with high protein portant both as to ext,ent and nut,rit,i”n. It has been customary to meal as supplements to forest contribution to the forage supply. get hy with as little rxtra feeding, range. Results apply in particular The two main shrubs, gallberry frncing and general care as possible. to thr Lower Coastal Plain hut in (Iles glabra) and sawpalmetto (Se- Burning is n r”mm”n m&hod “f in- gcncral to f”r”8t lands charac- renoa repcns), arc relativrl,y nn- creasing the value of nat,ive ha-hag” terized by an overstory of longleaf palatable and undesirable because for grazing. Winter burning in- and slash pines and herbaceous they increase the fire hazard and C~CRS~Sthe availability, palatability undcrstory of “wiregrass.” reduce herhage production. la_- p ad nut,ritive value of the native “viregrass” the next spring, and as a result spring and summer live- stork gains are two to three times greater on hrlrned than on “11. humed areas (Halls, et al. 1952). To” often, however, burning has beru used to increase grazing values at thr rspensc of potentially greater timber values. Some think grazing should be only ““P of several 26 B L. SOUTHWELL AND L. K. HALLS

Swamps and lowland areas, peri- ments to range forage, was studied 15 through January, then in dry lot odically under water, are charac- from 1948 to 1952. Additional with 2 pounds of cottonseed meal terized by cypresses (Taxodium comparisons were made from 1950 and 20-25 pounds of sugar cane per spp.), various hardwood trees and through 1952 by providing limited cow per day (Fig. 2). shrubs which provide only limited amounts of improved pasture in Improved pasture plants included herbage. Although quantity of addition to forest range. Grazing Louisiana white clover (Trifolium herbage produced is small, this schedules and supplemental feeding repens), Dallisgrass (Paspalum di- browse herbage may be relatively practices are illustrated in Figure 2. Zatatum), and carpetgrass. Annual high in certain minerals which help There were two groups involved in fertilization was at the per-acre to balance the animal diet. the protein supplement compari- rate of 56 pounds each of phosphate sons. Each of these groups was (P205) and potash (KZO). Previous Investigations divided into two small herds. The The cottonseed meal which was Previous studies conducted on two herds in group 1 were fed 2 fed three times per week in open this area (Shepherd, et al. 1953) pounds of cottonseed meal per head troughs had a protein content of 41 substantiated two earlier surveys per day from April 10 to June 30, percent. A mineral mixture of two (Biswell, et al. 1942 and Brasington and 1 pound from July 1 to October parts steamed bone meal (7 percent 1949) by showing that supplemental 15. During these same periods the crude protein, 33 percent’ calcium feeding was necessary to prevent two herds in group 2 were on the and 15 percent phosphorus) and one severe winter death losses of cattle.

Shepherd, et al. further reported GROUP , FEB , MAR. , APRIL , MAY , JUNE , JULY , AUG , SEPT. , OCT. , NOV. , DEC. , JAN. that a minimum acceptable level of I I I I FOREST RANGE PLUS I 2 POUNDS I POUND supplemental feeding to avoid star- COTTONSEED MEAL COTTONSEED MEAL ----a _---_ vation losses was about 1 pound of 2 FOREST RANGE ONLY l protein concentrate per head daily : from October 15 to January 31 when cows were on forest range, and a ration equivalent to 20-25 IMPROVEOPASTUREPERCOW pounds of sugarcane plus 2 pounds of protein concentrate from Febru- FOREST RANGE ONLY ary 1 to March 15 when cows were - off the range and in dry lots. Under 7 this supplemental feeding practice, dry cows gained consistently in the FIGURE 2. Grazing schedule and supplemental feeding practices. Groups 1 and 2 dry lot and on range through spring were on test from 1948 through 1952, groups 3, 4 and 5 from 1950 through 1952. and summer, and were in good enough condition to breed success- range without supplemental feed. of salt, by weight, was available to fully. Wet cows, however, usually They were allotted 7 acres of cows at all times. failed to conceive. They generally burned upland range, 7 acres of un- Grade Hereford cows, bred to barely maintained their weight or burned upland, and 6 acres of low- Brahman bulls during an April 25 lost slightly during the breeding land and swamp per cow for the to July 1 season, were used in this period and continued to lose weight first two years, and 10, 5, and 7 experiment. Grazing began about during the late summer, fall .and acres, respectively, the last three March 15 each year when the major winter. The supplemental feeding years. grasses, pineland threeawn and met the minimum requirements for Three groups of eight cows each, Curtiss dropseed, had made approxi- dry cows but was inadequate for groups 3,4 andl5,:were furnished x mately 6 and 4 inches growth, wet cows. A further inference was acre during spring and summer, 55 respectively. Supplemental feeding that additional supplementation at acre during the] summer, and 1% stations were located to encourage other seasons might raise the wet acres during the summer, respec- uniform grazing of the range. cows to breeding condition and tively, of improved pasture in addi- Results thereby increase the calf crop. tion to 10 acres of burned upland range and 3 acres of unburned low- Effects of Feeding Protein Concentrates Experimental Procedures land and swamp per cow. On Calf Crop Year-round and fall and winter All five groups were on forest Feeding cottonseed meal year feeding of protein concentrates to range with one pound of cottonseed round tended to increase the calf grade Hereford cows, as supple- meal per cow per day from October crop generally over the period of the SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDING IN GEORGIA PINE FORESTS 27

Table 1. Calf crops weaned by cows run On Calf Weights Table 2. Average weaning weights and on native range under two supple- The most pronounced effect of age of range calves in relation to two mental feeding practices extra feeding during the spring and supplemental feeding practices, 1948 to 1952 Cows fed Cows fed summer was the 65-pound per calf -__ cottonseed cottonseed meal during Weaning Year meal increase in weaned weight (Table 2). fall and weights year-round winter only Group 1 Over the period of the t&t this Supplemental feeding practice Age Group 2 ictual Ad- accounted for a larger portion of the justed increased beef production than the lbs. days greater number of weaned calves in 1948 Cows fed cottonseed 360 356 229 the group supplemented year round meal year-round 1949 16 16 on the range. Also, the better con- (Group 1) 1950 80 80 dition of calves at weaning added Cows fed cottonseed 295 299 224 1951 68 28 to the benefits of supplement meal fall and winter 1952 60 68 only (Group 2) - --- feeding. Average (1949- Cows on year-round supple- 1952)...... 56 48 mented range weaned calves which they were heavier by nea,rly 90 on the average were five days older pounds than the cows in group 2 at study (Table 1). Good calf crops than calves on unsupplemented the end of the experiment. were obtained in all herds during range. However, this had only minor Seasonal changes in weight varied 1948 because all cows had been dry influence on the weaning weights. considerably between treatments the previous year. The unusually The greater daily gains of calves and according to the numbers of good 1948 calf crop in group 1 during the suckling period were wet cows in each group. On the (cows on range with cottonseed meal apparently due to increased milk average, cows with calves lost during spring and summer) does not production by cows and direct approximately 130 pounds over a reflect the effect of increased supple- cottonseed meal consumption. period of a year even though fed ments because supplemental feeding supplements during the fall and On Cow Weights did not start until October 1947, and winter. This yearly loss was reduced all cows were treated alike until Differences in cow weights that to 83 pounds on wet cows by feed- March 15, 1948. Inability of wet developed during the study were ing cottonseed meal the year round cows to breed on unsupplemented relatively small. The initial weights (Table 3). native range is illustrated by the of 709 and 657 pounds per cow in During the calving period, Febru- low calf crop in 1949. In group 2 groups 1 and 2, respectively, had ary l-March 15, weight losses (cows on unsupplemented forest increased to only 774 and 685 averaged from 60 to 70 pounds, the range during spring and summer), pounds five years later. Large cows in best condition losing slightly the only cows that calved were individual yearly weight losses more weight. After the cows were those which had not produced occurred when the cows raised put on the range in March, those calves the previous year. The fact calves, and this prevented pro- fed cottonseed meal rapidly regained that three cows in group 1 calved in nounced increases in weight over nearly all of the weight lost in both years perhaps indicates a the test period. Because cows in calving. Because of this ability to slightly higher level of nutrition for group 1 produced more calves, they gain during spring and early sum- this group. Over the 5-year period, were subject to more frequent mer, wet cows fed cottonseed meal two-thirds of the cows in group 1 yearly losses in weight. Even so, obtained an advantage over those produced calves in two successive years and some calved three years Table 3. Average seasonal gain or loss in weight fdr wet and dry cows. in succession. This repeat calving Main calving period, February and March; calves weaned October 15 was most prevalent the last two Wet cows Dry cows years, probably because of the Season Group 1 I Group 2 Group 1 I Group 2 cumulative effect of better treat- pounds per aninzal ment and ability of older cows to Feb. l-Mar. 15 -71 -60 58 77 make more efficient use of the low Mar. 16-Apr. 25 18 -3 42 30 quality roughage. Only one-fourth Apr. %-June 30 50 -3 110 79 of the cows in group 2 produced July 1-Oct. 15 -9 -33 69 47 calves in two successive years, this Oct. 16-Jan. 31 -71 -31 -95 -53 occurring mostly during the last Average net -83 - 130 184 180 two years. 28 H

on range withollt, alpplrmmtal esprnso of the more drsirnhlc feed. Thrw, on the arerage, ron- I)nllisgmss. l’IIPC]IIRI ,,SP of the tinurd to losr weight. This ad- native rang? also rpsulted bccansc vantage was mantsincd through thr cat,tle tcndrd to graze hravily Octohpr c\‘en though all CO\YS lost near the improved past,r~re and some wright during late summer. lighter as the distatwc from pasture Weight losses continwd during the irwrrascd. Inrrrascd utilization of fall and rarly xvint,cr oven though the n&w herhage nod better mnintr- calvrs uwe wnncd in Oct,oher. nanre of Dallisgrass and white \~rao~~d weights of calves were clover vwc arromplished when the greatly incrrasrd by suppkmenting cnttlc were escludcd from pasture the range with improved pasture. until .July. This permitted a row nbights \vcre in proportion to the siderablc buildup of grass hcrbayc amount of pastumgc furnished in the improved pasture, hut with during the mummer when ralves such a schedule most of the white wcrc old enough to “btuitl a cwl- clover grazing was lost. sidwahle portion of their feed from grazing. Weaned calf weights averaged 456 pounds when improved Calf crops, as shown below, \\‘ere pasture was supplied during the similar for all three groups that had summer at the rat,e of 135 acres pw improved pasture as a supplement cow (group 5). Reducing this to native range. pasture to x acre per cow during Dry cow gained 180 pounds the same period also reduced meaw through the course of ri year on the ing weight to 407 pounds per calf average (Table 3). These co,,.8 (group 4). Where pasture herbage gained in the winter dry lot and had largely been removed in early continued to do so when placed on spring and was thus scwce during the range in March. As much as 1% the summer, calf meaning weights pounds per cow per day ,,.ere gained xvere only 386 pounds. during this spring grazing period. As forage quality and palatability These calf crops were slightly decreased during the late summer, higher than those of the protein Wet cows lost an average of the rate of gain declined. During supplemented groups (Table 1) approximakly G4 pounds through this range grazing period, dry cows during the first, three gears t,hcy the course of a year (Table 4). fed cottonswd meal made bcttct \wre on test,. In genwal, h”wc\w, The net result was approximat+ gains than dry cows on range with- the performance was similar in that the same for all hwds although out meal and hy October they averaged npproximatcly 4.5 pounds heavier. After October, all cows lost weight. The dry revs that were in the hest condition at the heginning of the Ortoher-January period lost the most weight; thus the net, year- long gains for dry cows were ahout the same regardless of spring and summer treatment.

Effects of Supplementing Forest Range with Improved Pasture Frrc access to forest range supplemented by one-half itcrc of improved pasture per row from March to October wsulted in es- tremely heavy USC of the pasturc. This also favored invasion of the low-produring carpetgrass at the SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDING IN GEORGIA PINE FORESTS 29

weight changes fluctuated through- Discussion venting large losses in weight during out the year according to the In order to produce a good calf the fall and winter when native amount of improved pasture fur- crop, wet cows must be able to forage quality was extremely low. nished. maintain or even increase their The failure of cows supplied with During the dry lot period, Febru- weight throughout the year. Losses limited improved pasture during ary l-March 15, cows which calved in animal weight may be permissible spring and summer to produce lost from 50 to 65 pounds. Those at certain times of the year, calves each year further indicates restricted to forest range from particularly during the calving that excessive weight losses during March 15 to July 1 just about period, but this weight should be fall and winter may be a major maintained their weight. Others regained at other times, preferably factor in restricting the number of provided with 55 acre of improved during the spring and summer, when calves born. Gains made by cows pasture made gains of 50 pounds per forage quality and grazing con- during and after the breeding animal. These were comparable to ditions are best. Since wet cows do season were not sufficient to counter- gains made on protein supple- not gain during this period on range act the effects of weight losses ments during the same period. without supplements, it appears during fall and winter. Thus, little Small allowances of improved necessary to provide additional benefit was realized from extra pasture provided in this study were forage or nutrients. Presumably, improved pasture during summer as closely grazed during the spring. As such cows should breed and conceive measured by the number of calves a result they were very unproductive when they receive sufficient supple- weaned. during the summer, and cattle were forced to obtain the greater portion Table 4. Average seasonal gain or loss in weight for cows with and without calves of their feed from the range. (195&1952)

Consequently, cows with calves in Wet cows Dry cows this group barely maintained their Season I Group 3 Group 4 1 Group 5 ( Group 3 1 Group 4 Group 5 weight during the summer. When I _ I I improved pastures were not grazed Pounds per animal Feb. l-Mar. 15 -52 -53 -65 69 until July (groups 4 and 5), grass 72 79 Mar. l&-June 30 50 10 -5 144 61 89 growth was allowed to accumulate; July l-&t. 15 -1 81 135 56 124 137 therefore, a large amount of good Oct. 16-Jan. 31 -58 -102 -131 - 100 -125 - 127 quality herbage was available. p-p-___P____p Access to this improved herbage, Average net -61 -64 -66 169 132 178 and the fact that cows had previously been on a near maintenance ments during the breeding season to There is little reason for feeding ration on forest range, enabled make gains of 50 to 70 pounds. protein concentrates or furnishing them to make very good gains Although several of the wet cows in improved pasture during spring and from early July to mid-October. this study did rebreed under such summer to dry cows which are to be These gains were largely nullified, conditions, most of them which kept in the herd. They breed however, by large losses in weight made similar gains failed to do so. successfully without it. Dry cows, of which occurred when cows were This indicated the need for a higher course, make better gains when again confined to range from mid- year-round level of nutrition. In- furnished with additional feed but October to late January. These creasing the rate of supplemental this weight advantage is offset by feeding during the spring and sum- losses occurred even though the the big losses which take place mer would help to raise the nu- calves were weaned and the cows during the fall and winter. If tritional. level and enable more management facilities are available, were fed cottonseed meal. cows to produce calves, but this wet cows should be separated from Dry cows gained an average of extra feeding does not appear replacement heifers and dry cows. 130 pounds or better through the justified when excessive weight Wet cows would make most efficient course of a year (Table 4). Good losses are allowed to take place at use of supplemental feeds; whereas performance was noted for all other seasons. Also, extra supple- the dry cows and heifers would make periods except when cows were on ments can be used most efficiently satisfactory gains and breed suc- range in fall and winter. Gains made when quality of native herbage is cessfully on range without supple- during spring and summer were lowest, rather than in the spring ments during the spring and sum- closely related to the amount and when it is highest. Presumably, the mer. time when improved pasturage was calving percentages could have been The benefits from year-round supplied. increased most efficiently by pre- feeding of cottonseed meal, as 30 B. L. SOUTHWELL AND L. K. HALLS practiced in this study, are small. menting range during spring and during this period. All animals were An extra 1621 pounds of cottonseed summer (Table 5). Wet cows that treated alike on range from October meal per cow produced approxi- had access to limited improved 15 through *January 30. mately 375 pounds more beef over a pasture made equal or better gains Cottonseed meal supplement fed 5-year period than when cows were from March 15 to October 15 than during the spring and summer fed meal only during fall and those on protein supplement. Net increased weaned calf crop from 55 winter ; or 4.3 pounds of extra returns per weaned calf were 17 to to 64 percent and the calf weaning cottonseed meal were required to 23 percent greater. These increases weights by 65 pounds. Over a 5-year produce an extra pound of beef. This in weight more than offset the period, an extra 1621 pounds of was primarily a result of the additional cost of providing pasture cottonseed meal per cow resulted in increased 338 pounds of calf weight as compared to protein concentrates. approximately 375 pounds more produced per cow. The 37-pound Supplementing the range with im- beef than when cows were fed meal increased gain in weight of cows proved pasture has one distinct dis- during the fall and winter only. Dry fed supplements year round was of advantage in that cows tend to cows benefited some from supple- minor importance. overgraze the improved pasture and ments fed during the spring and summer, but this advantage was Table 5. Net returns per weaned calf are increased by supplementing native range largely lost the following fall and during the spring and summer with improved pasture, as compared to winter when cows lost excessive cottonseed meal - _ weight. These losses were apparently costof a major factor in preventing cows Calf extra feed Cattle Return Supplement feeding schedule weaning during per calf from calving each year. group weight spring and summer1 Cows furnished limited amounts I- pounds dollars dollars dollars of improved pasture weaned heavier Adequate pasture (July-Oct.) 457 91 21 70 calves but calf crop was similar to Limited pasture (July-Oct.) 407 81 7 74 that for cows fed cottonseed meal. Limited pasture (Mar.-O&.) 386 77 7 70 Indications were that improved 73 Cottonseed meal (Apr.-Oct.) 360 IY 12 / 60 pasture was more economical than

l Cost per cow and calf, March 16-October 15. Based on yearly pasture mainte- protein concentrates for supple- nance of $14.00 per acre (including establishment prorated over 10 years) and cotton- menting forest range but less seed meal at $70.00 per ton. flexible in management.

LITERATURE CITED The economics of year-round nearby range. Moving the feed supplemental feeding would, of boxes of protein concentrate helps BISWELL, H. H., B. L. SOUTHWELL, J. W. STEVENSONAND W. 0. SHEPHERD. course, depend upon the relative to overcome this condition by 1942. Forest grazing and beef cattle price of cottonseed meal and beef. causing cattle to graze farther out. production in the Coastal Plain of During the course of this study, the Georgia. Ga. Coastal Plain Expt. Summary Sta. Circ. 8. 25 pp. average selling price of beef was 20 BRASINGTON, J. J. 1949. Forest grazing cents per pound, cottonseed meal In the longleaf-slash pine forests in south Alabama and west Florida. Southern Forest Exp. Sta. Rept. 3% cents. At this ratio the practice of the Coastal Plain of Georgia, 22 pp, (Processed) would apparently be justified. In- grade Hereford cows were grazed on CAMPBELL, R. S. AND R. R. RHODES. creased labor costs of getting supple- the native range except for a 1944. Forest grazing in relation to beef cattle production in Louisiana. ments to cattle would detract ‘from 6-weeks’ period in February and La. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bull. 380. 43 pp. this; but a closer check on animals, early March. During this off -range HALLS, L. K., B. L. SOUTHWELL AND F. E. KNOX. 1952. Burning and better control of insects and disease, period the cows were dry-lot fed a grazing in Coastal Plain forests. Ga. and ease of handling and rounding maintenance ration of chopped Coastal Plain Expt. Sta. Bull. 51. up cattle may partially or even sugarcane and cottonseed meal. 33 PP. MCCULLEY, R. D. 1950. Management of fully compensate for this extra While on the range, some of the natural slash pine stands in the flat- labor. cows were fed a supplement in the woods of south Georgia and north Florida. U. S. Dept. Agr. Circ. 845. The limited comparisons of this spring and summer consisting of 57 PP. study indicate that improved pas- cottonseed meal (1948-1952) or SHEPHERD, W. O., B. L. SOUTHWELL AND tures may be more economical than limited improved pasture (1950- J. W. STEVENSON. 1953. Grazing longleaf-slash pine forests. U. S. protein concentrates for supple- 1952). Others were given range only Dept. Agr. Circ. 928. 31 pp. TECHNICAL NOTES

PROPANE-POWERED LOW- contact with the solution for only the heated truck cab for a few VOLUME SPRAYER ASD an instant, it is believed to hc minutes. WEED BURSER slight. A unique feature of the apparatus A measured quantity of solution is its ready convertibility to a weed is sprayed over the plot through burner. The paint gun and hose are Assistant Agronomist, Nevada a siphon-type paint gun. The replaced with a burner attachment ngricu1tura1 Experiment station, and problem of drift which is en- which is available from a com- Agent (Agronomist) Field Crops countered in airplane spraying also mercial supply ~“urce. Research Branch, ARS, U. S. applies to this sprayer, so that it is The weight, of the empty sprsycr Department of Agricultwe, Rem, necessary to spray during hours of is about 20 pounds, and the tank [email protected]. low wind movement. It has been holds 10 pounds of propane. With the price of propane at $4.50 per It is often difficult to apply small 100 pounds, t,he cost of applying one amount,6 of spray solutions uni- gallon of water soluiion, if the formly over experimental plots, and sprayer were run continuously, has the difficulty is increased when been calculated at approximat,ely working with brushy range weeds 30 cents. The initial investment in which prohihit the use of a plot equipment ras $60.50, and was sprayer mounted on u.heels. itemized as follows: A number of sprayers designed ColltZ%i”?r $17.50 to apply small amounts of solution Ttegulatar snd pressure gauge IO.50 to experiment,al plots have been Paint gun described in the 1951 Research Re- Hose, clamp and bar&,&, ‘i:::: port of the North Central Weed Weed-burning torch. 13.50 Control Conference and by Buch- Total.. $60.50 holte (1950), Robinson and Dun- LITERATURE ClTED ham. (1950), Shaw (1950) and Ries I~UCHHOLTZ,K. P. 1950. A carbon dioxide and Terry (1952). These sprayers powered sprayer for small plots. use compressed air or carbon Agron. Jour. 42: 614. Hms, S. X. AND C. W. TERRY. 1052. The dioxide. In experiments where both found advantageous to have a two- design and evaluation of a small-plot burning and spraying treatments man team in spraying operations, sprayer. Weeds 1: 160-173. are employed, it would he necessary, Ranr~isos, R. G. ,c,-~ K. S. Dmwcx. one to operatae the sprayer and the 105% A sprayer for experimental in using surh a sprayer, to have a other to locate plots and measure plots. Agron. Jour. 42: 57-58. separate unit for the burning treat- solutions. SHAH, W. C. 1950. An effieicnt sprayer ments. for application of chemical sprnys The propane tank may he easily bo experimental field plots. Agron. A hack-pack, propane-powered filled in the field from cylinders Jour. 42: 158-160. sprayer (Figure 1) was used XI<:- containing 100 pounds of liquid cessfully in Nevada this past SCBS”~ propane. Since the propane is also ECONOMICS OF WESTERN for spraying low-growing reeds such carried in the hack tank in a liquid RANGE RESOURCE USE’ RS halogeton (H&g&z glomeratus) state, the continuity of operation JOHN A. HOPKIN and tall-growing shrubs such as possible with a two-man crew some- big sagebrush (Artmisia trident&) t,imes results in lowering of the Asst. Agricultural Economist, Uni- and rahhithrush (Chhrysothamnus temperature of the propane to a versity of Wyoming, Laramie, spp.) at rates of 3 to 10 gallons of point where t,he pressure falls below Wyoming spray sohltion per acre.’ Possible that set on a reduction valve. This The central economic problem herhicidal effrcts of propane which leads t,o event,ual frrrzing, particu- relative to range resource use is the may have become dissolved in the lnrly if a mater solution is being allocation of all scarce resource8 spray solutions have not heen applied on a cold morning. It has determined. Since the gas is in been necessary in these cases to stop at intervals to allow the temperature of the gas to rise. This can he hastened by setting the sprayer in 32 TECHNICAL NOTES available to the Western Range needed for making maximizing livestock production and dryland Area so as to obtain a maximum of solutions come from the science of cropping. A part of this problem for the goods and services desired by all range management. However, the some regions is the integration of individuals and groups concerned. logic of the maximizing principles irrigation into range and dryland The resources considered were : (1) is not a part of the theories and farming operations. The existing all land resources west of the eastern principles of range management as economic criteria for determining boundary (placed near the 100th currently defined, but comes from the feasibility of irrigation develop- meridian), including climate as well the science of economics. ment was appraised. as physiographic features; (2) all Optimum scale of firms occur The second type of product com- labor resources available to the area, when it is impossible to increase or bination to which the marginal including the skills, productivity decrease the size of firms and thus conditions were applied was that of and mobility of the workers; and obtain a lower cost of production for determining the optimum rate of (3) all capital and management the same products or increase the of product (resource) use over time. resources available to the area. amount of products from the same This is the general problem of The primary purpose of this resources. There is strong evidence conservation. study was to develop a logical that substantial scale maladjust- A theoretical model for deter- framework for economic analysis of ment occurs with the smaller firms. mining optimum intensity of grazing western range resource use. The The extent of conflict between over time was developed and basic deductive theorems of the resource efficiency and income dis- adapted to conditions of weather framework were taken from general tribution criteria for determining uncertainty. equilibrium theory and welfare optimum scale adjustment depends The third type of product com- economics adapted to dynamics. on the real nature of the economies bination pertained to the optimum The marginal conditions under- of scale. There are conflicts in the combination of the products of lying the theoretical models were kind of recommendations one makes multiple-use resources, 26x., live- enumerated, their limitations to based on each criteria. stock, wildlife, timber, recreation specific situations weri! pointed out, An important assumption under- and hydrological products. The and the policy and research implica- lying the necessary marginal con- general solution to this problem was tions of the maximizing solutions ditions for maximum welfare is approached through a series of were discussed. that the factors and products are partial solutions. In general, the economic prob- priced so that the market is cleared In each case the solution was a lems of range resource use fall of all factors and products that are function of the physical marginal under four main types of theoretical offered at that price and that no rates of product substitution be- solutions: (1) optimum factor com- demand at that price goes unsatis- tween the two alternatives in bination and use; (2) optimum fied. This assumption was found to question for a specific range site and scale of firms; (3) optimum product be invalid for several instances of the relative preferences of society combination; and (4) the pricing of federally owned forage resulting in for the products being considered. factors and products. The latter pressures tending toward malalloca- The general nature of several set of problems arises out of the tion. A general procedure was pre- physical transformation functions environment in which some of the sented for evaluating the forage in was suggested, and procedures for factors and products are rationed terms of: (1) the quantity and qual- estimating others were outlined. and their respective prices are ad- ity of forage and the production co- The relative preferences of society ministered. efficient rate at which grass was for alternative products are usually The marginal conditions govern- transformed into animal product; (2) expressed in terms of market ing the optimum combination of the price of livestock products; and prices. Not all products are allo- factors of production specify that (3) the cost of resources other than cated through the market mecha- factors be so allocated that the forage associated with range-live- nism, however. In some cases indi- ratio of the discounted expected stock production. marginal value of product to the The marginal conditions specify- viduals express their preferences for discounted expected price of the ing an optimum combination of alternatives by voting. Many of the factor be equal for every resource. enterprises (products) were ex- allocaGon decisions pertaining to This ratio should also be equal for plored for three different types of range resource use have been dele- every possible alternative use for allocation problems. The first was gated to elected and/or appointed each factor. (In absolute equilib- that of determining the type of representatives. The complex and rium this ratio would be 1.00.) The agricultural production for areas interrelated allocation decisions that physical input-output relationships that are marginal between range- are made by the several different TECHNICAL NOTES 33 elected and appointed representa- mate the preferences of individuals mizing solution. Where the informa- tivcs (Congress, the President and relative to alternatives by means of tion is not known, the models direct the bureaucracy) can he improved statistical sampling. the search for the needed facts. In hy the use of: (1) a central planning Where t!he information needed for the meantime they furnish the only and c*oordinating board; and (2) a a decision is known, the theoretical logical basis for decision making in professional sampling staff to esti- models lead directly to the maxi- the absence of information.

New Publications of Interest

An Introduction to Climate. By H. T. Kimble. McGraw-Hill Co., Sampling Theory of Surveys with Glenn T. Trewartha. McGraw-Hill N. 1’. 320 pages. 1954. $4.50. Applications. By P. V. Sukhatme. Co., N. Y. 402 pages. 1954.$7.00. Raising Livestock. By George P. Food and Agricultural Organi- Commerce of the Prairies. By Josiah Deyoe, W. A. Ross and MT. H. zation, Rome, Italy. 491 pages. Gregg, edited by hIax I,. R/Ioor- Peters. McGraw-Hill Co., N. I’. 1954. $6.00. 540 $5.75. head. University of Olclahoma pages. 1954. Statistics and Mathematics in Bi- Readings on Agricultural Marketing. Press, Norman. 480 pages. 1954. ology. By Oscar Kempthorne et By Frederick V. Waugh (editor). $7.50. al. Iowa State College Press, Ames. American Farm Economic Associ- Methods of Crop Forecasting. BJ 640 $6.75. ation. 456 pages. 1954. $5.00. pages. 1954. Fred H. Sanderson. Harvard Uni- Reclamation in the United States. The Schooling of the Western versitg Press, Cambridge, Mass. By Alfred R. Golze. McGraw- Horse. By John Richard Young. 254 pages. 1954. $5.00. Hill Co., N. Y. 451 pages. 195.2. l’niversity of Oklahoma Press, Our American Weather. By George $8.50. Norman. 376 pages. 1954. $4.95.

PLAN NOW TO ATTEND

THE 8TH ANNUAL MEETING AMERICAN SOCIETY

OF RANGE MANAGEMENT

HOTEL SAINTE CLAIRE

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA January 25-26-27-28, 1955 BOOK REVIEWS Edited by Hudson G. Reynolds, Rocky Mtn. For. & Range Exp. Sta., Box 951, Tucson, Arizona.

North American Prairie. By J. E. terested in the studies on the prairie valuable. Particularly is this true for Weaver. Johnsen Publishing Co., inclusions and the forest border. those of us who devote a part or all of Lincoln, Nebraska. 348 pages. 1954. The chapters on the great drought of our time to agricultural service. This $5.00. the nineteen thirties is an exhaustive book, written by 17 experts, “is pre- This book is a comprehensive sum- record. The impact of an extreme en- pared for the many who have been mary of some 40 years of study of the vironmental condition-the drought- puzzled and were annoyed at then North American Prairie by the author, and its subsequent effect on species and seeming inability to grasp the signifi- his students and other workers in the communities reveals the strength and cance of plant regulators, what they are, field of plant ecology. It is designed to capacity of the prairie to adjust to how they operate, and where they be- tell the story of the Prairie to the lay- severe conditions. long in agriculture.” The writers have man and technician alike. The process of degeneration and re- done an excellent job in describing the As a synthesis of some 205 citations generation of the prairie completes the various chemicals that have plant regu- and Dr. Weaver’s interpretation of the story of the prairie. Plowing has de- lating properties, and in explaining the Prairie as a complex society of living stroyed a major portion of the Prairie principles of their action, and the results organisms, the book is organized to this with little chance of its recovery because obtained from their use. end. The opening chapter on the nature of economic demands. Excessive grazing Subject matter for the 16 chapters of grasslands and grasses sets the back- has caused the prairie to give way to has been well chosen so that all practical ground for understanding the Prairie. Kentucky bluegrass and much of the uses of plant regulators are covered. Next, plant species and communities are sod is no longer prairie but pasture. Fire The first two chapters present a brief described in detail. Herbaceous plants due to lightning or started by Indians review of general botany, the physiology are treated as important members of the is considered a natural factor of the of growth and reproduction, and the prairie community. . environment. Annual fall burning for discovery and development of plant Descriptions of roots and other under- pasture improvement, a common prac- regulators. Included is a report on ground parts of various species are well tice after settlement, is considered a Nomenclature of Chemical Plant Regu- done, as one would expect from Dr. contributing factor in the degeneration lators, prepared by a committee of the Weaver, who has been long known as the of the prairie. American Society of Plant Physiologists. outstanding student of underground The rancher and technician alike will This report presents a series of defini- parts of plants. The rate of root de- both find this book enjoyable and in- tions covering terminology in the field velopment, extent of root development formative reading. The excellent illus- of regulator physiology that should go and longevity of roots of prairie species trations, particularly of the herbs, will a long way toward clearing away the are considered important in the main- appeal to the layman. The book will confusion that exists in the literature tenance of the prairie as a closed com- become a frequent reference for those with respect to plant regulators. munity. The seasonal aspect of the who deal with the prairie. As a record Chapter 3 considers the chemical prairie is described in a personal and of a major plant community it will be nature of plant regulators. This is an intimate way which reveals the beauty a landmark in the field of plant ecology excellent presentation. Though, at first of the prairie. It is almost subjective. and a standard on plant community glance, it may seem unduly technical The stability of the prairie is indicated analysis for years to come. It could have because of the chemical formulas in- as an equilibrium which allows for some been written only by a man who de- cluded, one must realize that intelligent variation but which is self contained as voted a lifetime to intimate living with use of such compounds requires our to its species. The longevity of domi- the prairie.-Melvin S. Morris, School understanding of their chemistry. nants, their control of light and water, of Forestry, University of Montana, The remaining chapters of this book their effects on temperature and hu- Missoula. take up the use of plant regulators in midity of the immediate environment, induction of rooting, the control of @ together with their capacity to adjust flowering and fruit set, control of abscis- to the climate and biota, are the major Plant Regulators in Agriculture. Com- sion of leaves and fruits, maturation of elements of this stability. piled and edited by H. B. Tukey, fruits, inhibition of sprouting, setting Considerable space is devoted to re- Michigan State College. John Wiley of seeds and weed control in its various ports of historical observations. For ex- & Sons Inc., New York. 269 pages. aspects. The final chapter describes ample, in early Illinois and Kansas big 1954. $5.50. equipment and methods of application bluestem made such growth that a rider As the numbers of chemicals used in of plant regulators. had to stand in the stirrups to see over agriculture increase and the published From the standpoint of range manage- the prairie. Range technicians con- reports of research and testing pile up, ment it is unfortunate that there is so cerned with brush control will be in- well organized, timely reviews are in- little information given on the control

34 ROOK REVIEWS 35

of trees, brush, poisonous plants and Creek, 90 weary miles from Pierre, South The author has writ’ten the book be- range weeds, particularly on western Dakota. You follow him as he rides his cause as he says, “The country is run- ranges. However, most such methods herd, hires his ranch hands, chases ning out of grass.” He points out the are new and still undergoing rapid de- rustlers and horse thieves, eats his own deterioration in our grasslands, development. cooking and sourdough bread, and oc- plorable plow-ups creating future dust This is a readable book that brings casionally rides to Pierre to “get the bowls and gullied waste lands, and the together most of the practical knowledge alkali water” out of his system and to disastrous effect of overgrazing and re- in the use of plant regulators. The “bleach out.” peated burning on grasslands over the language is simple, illustrations are Siberts started out in the cattle country. clear, and a plant science background business in a small way, building up his ,4 n earnest plea is made for bettel sufficient for comprehension. It should herd gradually. Two hard winters just management of our remaining grass- be emphasized that this is not a reference about broke him. It was then he changed land. Professor Staten points out that volume for research workers. It is to horse ranching. Again he built up grass and legume pastures are the cheap- written for “the county agricultural stock numbers, only to again suffer est form of livestock feed that can be agents-advanced high school students, heavy losses from the weather. Dis- produced. Grassland farming offers a college students, and a considerable heartened, he sold out “lock, stock and practical, economical means to protect sprinkling from the business and pro- barrel” and moved to Oklahoma. our remaining soils and return millions fessional world.” It will prove to be In recalling past experiences for of acres to productivity before erosion valuable to a wide group of readers in- author Wyman in remarkably clear has gone too far. cluding many interested in range man- images, Siberts decided his life had Professor Staten has in terms readily agement .--A. X. Crafts, Department brought his reward enough, stating. . . . understood by the lay reader described of Botany, University of California, “it was horses that gave me my start. what is happening to our grasslands, Davis. If I had stayed in cattle, I might still why it is happening, and the long process have been drinking alkali water and nature takes to build back to grass living with a mortgage in South Dakota. through successive stages. He explains Nothing but Prairie and Sky. By Walker But it wasn’t a bad place for a young the practices necessary to successful D. Wyman from the original notes of man to start out-even if there was establishment of productive, nutritive Bruce Siberts. University of’0klahoma nothing but prairie and sky.” pastures; cites numerous examples of Press, Norman. 217 pages. 1954. Unfortunately, Bruce Siberts did not improved farms built up with pastures; $3.75. live to see his life’s story in print, for and presents comprehensive charts out- Many a rancher in the early livestock in 1952 at the age of 84 “he passes on lining the grasses and legumes and their days on the Dakota range, hard pressed to a new frontier where, it is said, there by severe winters, summer droughts, are no rustlers or blizzards.” We can, combinations adapted throughout the insects and low prices, would have given however, receive inspiration and en- United States. his right arm for the opportunity of couragement from him in this book, This book should appeal to friends of reading about those days, as we can his memorial.--John M. Fenley, Clark the land, progressive ranchers, range now, rather than have had to go through County Agent, Las Vegas, Nevada. managers, county agricultural agents, them. Few of us realize or can imagine students of agronomy, conservationists the incredible hardships experienced in and technicians in all branches of agri- that era, the complete lack of even basic Grasses and Grassland Farming. By culture who wish to broaden their facilities. For us now it would have Hi W. Staten. The Devin-Adair Co., knowledge in the field of cultivated made life miserable at best and wretched New York. 319 pages. 1952. $5.00. grasses and legumes and pasture man- at other times. This book contains a wealth of in- agement. Individuals concerned with Men were men in those days. Civiliza- formation applicable throughout the application of good range management tion had not progressed to our present United States. More readable than the and those who design the patterns to status of physical mollycoddling, nor 1948 Yearbook, Grass, the book by be applied should read this book and had spoon-feeding of our intellect yet Staten covers much of the same ma- profit from the personal experiences begun, so these early scions of the rabge of the author and the many ranchers were actually pretty tough hombres. terial in brief form and includes similar whose stories he tells in an interesting Their friendships were fast and their information on individual grasses. The enemies received no mercy. crop calendars show at a glance seasonal and forceful manner.--l. P. Hamilton, Bruce Siberts takes you back with growth of the species which are adapted In Charge, University of Arizona Soil him to his one room shack on Plum to the various sections of the country. Conservation Nursery, Tucson, Arizona. CURRENT LITERATURE Edited by Arnold M. Schultz, School of Forestry, University of California, Berkeley, California

RANGE PLANTS

Forage value, chemical composition, ecology, phgsiologg, s@emafics, genetics

Bosemark, Nils Olaf. The influence of Scientific and Industrial Res., Palmer- Jour. Agr. Res. 5 (3): 356-364. nitrogen on root development. ton North, N. Z.) July 1954. (Div. Plant Industry, Physiol. Plant. 7 (3): 497-502. 1954. Gausman, H. W., W. R. Cowley and CSIRO, Canberra, A.C.T.) (Botanical Laboratory, Lund, Swe- J. H. Barton. Reaction of some McLachlan, K. D. The effect of calcium den) grasses to artificial salinization. sulphate on the response of subterra- Brougham, R. W. Pasture establishment Agron. Jour. 46 (9): 412-414. Sept. nean clover to rock phosphate. Jour. studies. I. The effect of grass seeding 1954. (Tex. Agr. Expt. Sta.). Au&al. Inst. Agr. Sci. 20 (2): 119- rate on the establishment and de- Heddle, R. G. and J. B. D. Herriott. 122. June 1954. (Div. Plant In- velopment of pastures of short The establishment, growth and yield dustry, CSIRO, Canberra, A.C.T.) rotation ryegrass, red and white of ultra-simple grass seed mixtures in Phillips, T. G., J. T. Sullivan, M. E. clovers. New Zeal. Jour. Sci. Technol. the south-east of Scotland. I. The Loughlin and V. G. Sprague. Chemical (A) 35 (6): 518-538. Apr. 1954. II. effects of varying grass seed rates. composition of some forage grasses. The influence of herbage height at Jour. Brit. Grassland Sot. 9 (2): I. Changes with plant maturity. grazing, and of grass seeding rate, on 99-110. June 1954. (Edinburgh and Agron. Jour. 46 (8): 361-369. Aug. the establishment and development East of Scotland Coll. of Agr.) 1954. (New Hampshire Agr. Expt. of pastures of short rotation ryegrass, Hunt, I. V. Seed establishment in the Sta., Durham, N. H., and U. S. red and white c&lovers. New zeal. west of Scotland. Jour. Brit. Grass- Regional Pasture Res. Lab., State Jour. Sci. Technol. (A) 35 (6): 539- land Sot. 9 (2): 85-98. June 1954. College, Pa.) 549. Apr. 1954. III. Barley as a cover (West of Scotland Agr. Coll., Auchin- Yawalkar, K. S. and A. R. Schmid. crop in establishing pastures for the cruive) Performance of birdsfoot trefoil production of late autumn and winter Hutton, E. M. and J. W. Peak. The alone and in competition with other green-feed. New Zeal: Jour. Sci. effect* of autotetraploidy in five species in pastures. Agron. Jour. 46 Technol. (A) 36 (1): 47-59. June varieties of subterranean clover (9): 407-411. Sept. 1954. (Univ. 1954. (Grasslands Div., Dept. of (Trijolium subterraneum L.). Austral. Minn., St. Paul)

RANGE AND PASTURE MANAGEMENT

Management plans, utilization, condition, maintenance

Anonymous. Grassland farming. West. (3): 409-414. July 1954. (Univ. Sampson, Arthur W. and L. T. Burcham. Livestock Jour. 32 (52): 49, 120-121, Calif., Davis) Forage composition and yield. Studies 123. Sept. 1954. Maurer, Ted C. and Barrington King. of forage regrowth and grazing Friggens, Paul. What is over-grazing? Progress in grassland agriculture in capacity on controlled burned areas in Farm Jour. p. 40. Sept. 1954. the Southeast. Jour. Soil and Water northern California. Calif. Agr. 8 Love, R. Merton. Range management Conserv. 9 (5): 210-213. Sept. 1954. (10): 12-13. Oct. 1954. (Univ. standards. The Appraisal Jour. 22 (Soil Conserv. Service, Spartanburg, Calif., Berkeley, and State Div. s. C.) Forestry, Sacramento)

RANGE IMPROVEMENT

ArtiJicial revegetation, noxious plant control, mechanical improvements, fertilization

Biswell, H. H., J. L. Launchbaugh and elements. New Zeal. Jour. Agr. 89 Lang. Improving production of old A. M. Schultz. Reseeding controlled (1): 17, 19, 21, 23, 25-26. July 1954. seeded dryland pastures. Wyo. Agr. burns. Calif. Agr. 8 (10): 11. Oct. (Dept. of Agr., Wellington, N. Z.) Expt. Sta. Mimeo. Circ. 48. 5 pp. 1954. (Univ. Calif ., Berkeley) Murphy, Alfred H., R. Merton Love and Aug. 1954. (Laramie) Dougall, H. W. Some fertilizer aspects Lester J. Berry. Improving Klamath Wagner, R. E. Nitrogen . . . can it of grassland husbandry in the Kenya weed ranges. Calij. Agr. Expt. Sta. replace our meadow legumes? What’s Highlands. Jour. Brit. Grassland Ext. Service Circ. 437. 16 pp. Apr. New in Crops and Soils 7 (1): 16-l 7. Sot. 9 (2): 141-148. June 1954. 1954. (Calif. Agr. Expt. Sta. and Oct. 1954. (Agr. Res. Service, Belts- (Dept. of Agr., Kenya) Ext. Service, Davis) ville, &Id.) Lynch, P. B. Pasture responses to trace Rauzi, Frank, 0. K. Barnes and R. L.

[RANGE INFLUENCES Erosion, forests, watersheds, wildlife, soils

Slocum, Walter L. and LaMar T. upland game production and hunting Expt. Sta. Bull. 552. 24 pp. July 1954 Empey. The role of the farmer in in Whitman County. Wash. Agr. (State Coll. of Wash., Pullman) CURRENT LITERATURE 37

Tannehill, I. R. More dry years ahead. Food and Agriculture Organization of Veihmeyer, F. J. and F. A. Brooks. Countrjy Gentleman 124 (9): 2.3: the United Nations. Soil erosion hleasurements of cumulative evapo- 72-73. Sept. 1954. (U. 8. Bureau, survey of Latin America. Part II. ration from bare soil. Trans. Amer. Washington, I). C.) South America. Jol~r. Soil and Water Geophysical 71nion 35 (4): 601-607. The Conservation Foundation and the Conserv. 9 (5): 214-219, 223-229, 237. Aug. 1954. (Univ. Calif., Davis) Sept. 1954.

RANGE AND LIVESTOCK ECONOMICS

Land utilization and administration, production costs, marketing, ranch organization

Aandahl, Andrew R., William G. Mur- Gray, James R. and Chester B. Baker. Sampson, Arthur W. and L. T. Burcham. ray and Wayne Scholtes. Economic Organization, costs, and returns on Costs and returns of controlled brush rating of soils for tax assessment. cattle ranches in the northern Great burning for range improvement in Jour. Farm Econ. 36 (3): 483-499. Plains 1930-1952. Mont. Agr. Expt. northern California. Calij. Div. Fores- Aug. 1954. (Soil Conserv. Service and Sta. Bull. 495. 107 pp. Dec. 1953. try Range Mangt. Publ. No. 1. Iowa State Coll., Ames) (Bur. Agr. Econ., U.S.D.A., and 43 pp. Dec. 1954. (Univ. Calif., Burcham, L. T. and Arthur W. Sampson. Mont. State Coll., Bozeman) Berkeley, and Calif. State Div. Costs of controlled burning. Cc&j. Redman, John C. and Stephen Q. Forestry, Sacramento) Agr. 8 (9): 8-9, 15. Sept. 1954. Allen. Some interrelationships of Stevens, Ira M. Marketing range cattle. (Calif. State Div. Forestry, Sacra- economic. and agronomic concepts. Wyo. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bull. 331. mento, and Univ. Calif., Berkeley) Jour. Farm Econ. 36 (3): 453465. 12 pp. Aug. 1954. (Laramie) Aug. 1954. (Univ. Ky.)

RANGE LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT Production, feeding, pests and diseases, history

Critchfield, Howard J. The growth of management. I. Variations in grazing Lane, Albert M. and E. B. Stanley. pastoralism in Southland, New Zea- habits of dairy cattle. Jour. Agr. Sci. Cattle feeding in Arizona. 9riz. land. Econ. Geog. 30 (4): 283-300. 44 (4): 420-433. Aug. 1954. (Ruakura Agr. Ext. Service Circ. i31. 19 pp. Oct. 1954. (m’est. Washington Coll. of Animal Res. Sta., N. Z. Dept. Agr.) Mar. 1954. (Univ. Ariz., Tucson) Educ., Bellingham, N. Z.) Henderson, David A. “Corn belt” Rohlf, John A. Now . . . hormone prod- Dove, Robert and Robert Miller. Key cattle feeding in eastern Colorado’s uct’ OK’d for sheep; cattle likely soon. to the calf crop. West. Livestoclc irrigated valleys. Econ. Geog. SO Farm Jour. pp. 31, 155. Oct. 1954. Jour. 32 (52): 43, 97. Sept. 1954. (4): 364-372. Oct. 1954. (Univ. Schaus, Richard. Salt is the thermostat. Hancock, John. Studies of grazing Calif., Los Angeles) West. Livestock Jour. 32 (58): 43, behaviour in relation to grassland 61, 64. Oct. 1954.

RANGE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH Bibliographies, methods, equipment

Hoover, Marvin D., David F. Olson, Jr. by grazing cattle and sheep. IV. during drying. Jour. Brit. Grassland and Louis J. Metz. Soil sampling for A source of error in the chromogen Sot. 9 (2): 119-130. June 1954. pore space and percolation. Southeast. technique of estimating the di- (Grassland Res. Inst., Hurley, Berk- Forest Expt. Sta. Paper 4.2. 69 pp. gestibility of fodders. New zeal. shire) mimeo. June 1.954. (Asheville, N. C.) Jour. Sci. Technol. (A) 35 (6): Shipley, Roy L. Simple seeder for the Kovner, Jacob L. and Thomas C.. 489-496. Apr. 1954. range. soil Conserv. 19 (12): 274-285. Evans. A method for determining the Moore, P. G. Spacing in plant popu- July 1954. (Soil Conserv. Service, minimum duration of watershed lations. Ecology 35 (2): 222-227. Terr. of Hawaii) experiments. Trans. Amer. Geo- Apr. 1954. (Univ. Coll., London) West, 0. Improvements in the tech- physical Union 35 (4): 608-612. Olson, David F., Jr. and Marvin D. nique and design of veld management Aug. 1954. (Southeast. Forest Expt. Hoover. Methods of soil moisture experiments. So. Afr. Jour. Sci. 50 Sta., Asheville, N. C.) determination under field conditions. (9): 222-227. July 1954. Lancaster, R. J. Measurement of feed Southeast. Forest Expt. Sta. Paper Wilde, S. A. Floristic analysis of ground intake of grazing cattle and sheep. 38. 28 pp. mimeo. April 1954. (Ashe- cover vegetation by a rapid chain V. Estimation of feed-to-faeces ratio ville, N. C.) method. Jour. Forestry from the nitrogen content of the 52 (7): 49% July 1954. (Univ. Wisconsin, faeces of pasture fed cattle. New Page, Glen E. Sprayers for experimental 502. Zeal. Jour. Sci. Technol. (A) 36 plots. Agr. Engin. 35 (7): 498-499. Madison) (1): 15-20. June 1954. (Ruakara July 1954. (Oregon State Coll., Wilsie, C. P. Relative efficiency of Animal Res. Sta., N. Z. Dept. Agr., Corvallis) lattice and randomized block designs Hamilton) Raymond, W. F. and C. E. Harris. The for forage crop trials. Agron. Jour. Lancaster, R. J. and Margaret P. laboratory drying of herbage and 46 (8): 355-357. Aug. 1954. (Iowa Bartrum. Measurement of feed intake faeces, and dry matter losses possible State Coil., Ames) WlTH THE SECTIONS

COLORADO velopments which have furnished ade- yields up to 700 pounds of animal prod- Forty members of the Colorado Sec- quate stock water and forage in an area ucts per acre are obtained. tion had a field meeting on August 27 with flash storms the major source of After a picnic lunch at the Experi- and 28, touring the Mountain Meadows precipitation. The spreading and dis- mental Station, the group drove to and Hatchett Cattle Company ranches tribution of water in the valleys has IMedicine Hat and saw the irrigated with M. T. EVERHART,owner, and his increased the livestock feed on an other- pasture and feedlot set-up belonging to livestock manager, LOUIS DRAPER, as wise very dry range and provided ade- the S and T Ranching Company. hosts. quate and properly distributed stock Management practices in use were ex- The first day was spent viewing the water.-Warren J. Grap. plained by DICK SHOLTEN.A demon- management and improvements on the stration was given of a motor-driven INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN Mountain Meadows Ranch southwest sprinkler irrigation system. of Wetmore. Mr. EVERHARThas owned Another successful meeting of the On September 3rd, the group toured this ranch since 1935 and has made range International Mountain Section was the Cypress Hills area south and east improvements for the past 18 years at held in the Lethbridge-Medicine Hat of Medicine Hat. This area figured an annual cost of approximately $3,000. area of southern Alberta on September largely in early Alberta history and The improvements viewed on the tour 1st to 3rd with about 70 members many of its historical aspects had been were gulley plugging, contour spreader present. discussed by Senator GERSHAW the previous evening. A. W. MURPHY, of the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Adminis- tration, discussed water conservation in the area and showed a dam used for maintaining stock-watering facilities downstream. Water released from the dam during dry periods fills up potholes in the creek bed for several miles downstream. At a stop overlooking the Medicine Hat country and the geological formation of the Cypress Plateau, WALLY HANSONand JIM MCARTHUR led a discussion covering some of the vegetational types of the area and management practices used by ranch operators. IM~A~~~~~ also reviewed his work with the “cattalo” and other research at the Manyberries Range Station. Colorado Section officers Charles Terwilliger, Jr., Vice Chairman, Warren J. Gray, A lunch at Elkwater Park, followed Secretary-Treasurer and Fred H. Kennedy, Chairman, at the field meeting on the Hatchett Ranch near Pueblo, August 28th. by short talks from the outgoing and incoming chairmen completed the program. RON PEAKE acted as master of ditches, rehabilitation of plowed fields, Activities got underway on the even- ceremonies throughout the meeting.- reseeding, water development, roads ing of September 1st with a banquet in Robert L. Ross. and fencing. Steers have made an aver- Lethbridge at which DICK PAINTERwas age gain of over 3 pounds per day, even the guest speaker. His discussion on Incoming officers for 1955 are: during the current dry year. Supple- “Insects and Man” indicated the im- Chairman: JOHN CROSS, Nanton, Al- mental feeding of crushed cake and salt portance of competing insects in our berta is practiced when necessary. everyday life. Dick emphasized the 1st Vice-Chairman: M. J. REED, Mis- The next day the group toured the need for study of the effects of insects soula, Montana Hatchett Ranch south of Pueblo. The on yield and quality of our range grasses 2nd Vice-Chairman: ALEX JOHNSTON, range improvements and practices ob- as well as on the grazing animal. Lethbridge, Alberta served were similar to those at the On September 2nd a short business Secretary-Treasurer: E. A. CHISHOLM, Mountain Meadows Ranch but were meeting was held at the Dominion Ex- Calgary, Alberta designed for low elevation, short grass perimental Station at which new officers range. The highlight of the tour on the were introduced or announced. The KANSAS-OKLAHOMA Hatchett Ranch was the series of large, group then toured a series of experi- The Fall Roundup of the Kansas- water-impounding and spreader de- mental irrigated pastures from which Oklahoma Section was held October 38 WITH THE SECTIONS 39

13 and 14 at Ashland, Kansas. The meet- out management plans for entire water- The winning team will receive ex- ing was scheduled immediately follow- sheds of northeastern and east central penses to the New Mexico Cattle ing the Annual Range Improvement Nevada were accepted by stockmen and Growers’ annual meeting where a Field Day at the U. S. Southern Great were considered the most workable demonstration will be conducted in Plains Field Station at Woodward, plans every devised for those areas. behalf of the Society. Oklahoma to allow members to attend To reorganize the official roster of the both affairs. Section following White’s death, the In August TRACY L. HEGGIE, SCS, A banquet, program and business following actions were taken by the Albuquerque was named Secretary- session were held at the 4-H Building Council : Treasurer to fill out the term of FLICK in Ashland in the evening of October 13. NED SMITH, elected Vice-Chairman HODGINwho was transferred to Williams, Dr. JERRY SOTOLA,Associate Director, at the Annual Meeting, was moved to Arizona.--A. V. Steed, Chairman and Livestock Bureau, Armour Q Co. of Chairman. T. L. Heggie, Sec.-Treasurer. Chicago gave the principal address en- GEORGE ZAPPETTINI,previously ap- titled “Advances in Ruminant Nutri- pointed Secretary-Treasurer, was moved SOUTH DAKOTA tion”. up to Vice Chairman. The South Dakota Section’s objective On October 14 the group participated Chairman SMITH selected JOHN L. of holding ranch tours in various parts in a tour featuring reseeding, sagebrush ARTZ for Secretary-Treasurer, this ac- of its range area was expanded in 1954, spraying and range management prac- tion being approved by the Council.- following three successful tours in 1953. tices, arranged by Bennie Bird, Clark John M. Fenley. These tours provide each member a County Extension Agent of Ashland better opportunity to attend one or more NEW MEXICO and the program committee headed by field meetings, compared to a central W. H. PAINTER.Inspections were made The New Mexico Section held a suc- meeting. The fact that half our mem- of native grass seedings on the Snake cessful meeting at Ruidoso, September bers attended one or more tours indi- Creek Ranch, Caucasian grass seeding 24 and 25, with about 50 members and cated the success of this approach. In on the V. W. MCMINIMY ranch, switch- guests attending. addition more than 150 visitors attended grass on the PAUL RANDALLranch and The tour scheduled for the Upper our seven tours; over half were ranchers. of sagebrush spraying and deferment Hondo Watershed Project during the The first tour was on OTTO WOLFF’S practices at the DEL RANDAI;L ranch. first day was cancelled because of rain. winter sheep range in April, where DEWITT ABBOTT, State Soil Conserva- All agreed that the rain was better than Wolff showed us his lambing operations tionist, was principal speaker at the the tour. The group joined the Super- in full swing. Plants of the mixed prairie luncheon in Ashland. FRANCISARNOLD visors of the Upper Hondo SCD as vegetation were identified, and their of Hays led a discussion on range man- guests at their noon barbecue in Capitan growth characteristics discussed by agement during the afternoon session. where slides and a discussion of the LES ALBEE, Soil Conservation Service, projects on the watershed were given. in relation to range sites, condition and NEVADA A banquet was held that evening at the utilization. The Nevada Section enjoyed an ex- Carrizo Lodge in Ruidoso. Most of Wolff’s sheep range is in ceptionally good year as far as range On the following day the meeting excellent condition. His March shearing management was concerned, but the convened at Carrizo Lodge for a series of and the continuous grass cover makes year also had its sorrows. It saw the four informative talks: Poisonous plants his one of the cleanest wool clips in the passing of WILLIAM N. WHITE, one of of New Mexico, Dr. J. J. NORRIS, New United States. our charter members. BILL WHITE Mexico A. & M. College; Range feed- Selenium poisoning of cattle and began his official contribution to the ing of concentrates and nutritional de- horses is a perennial problem in parts Nevada Section two years ago when he ficiencies in New Mexico, Prof. J. H. of South Dakota. Two June tours on served as secretary-treasurer. In 1953 KNOX, New Mexico A. & M. College; consecutive days on the JACK HUNTER he was elected Vice Chairman and was. Principal external parasites of cattle ranch, Ardmore, and ALFRED HANSEN the main coordinating force of the 1954 and sheep in New Mexico, Dr. H. 0. ranch, Nisland, helped point out the Field Tour and Annual Meeting. At this PETERSON,Livestock Research Section, selenium indicator plants by Koda- meeting he was elected to the position ARS; and Promising Exotic grasses in chrome slides at indoor meetings in the of Chairman, but before he could take New Mexico, J. A. DOWNS, Soil Con- mornings and in the field in the after- over these duties, death overtook him servation Service, Albuquerque. noons. ALBEE handled this part of these in an automobile accident near Ely on programs. BOB RADEKE,SCS Soilsman, June 8. The New Mexico Section sponsored related selenium occurrence to geologic Cattlemen and sheepmen all over a 4-H Club Grass Judging Contest for formations of the area. Nevada, as well as we in the Section, which prize money totalling $100 was OSCAR OLSON and EUGENE WHITE- miss the genial manner and professional provided by the Section. A sum of $54 HEAD of the State Agricultural Experi- integrity that we knew in Bill. His work was obtained from voluntary contribu- ment Station described the acute and in the Bureau of Land Management tions solicited by the committee for this chronic stages of the poisoning and how helped put into practice many new project, J. S. MCCORKLE, Chairman. to minimize the bad effects. HENRY range ideas to provide greater benefits The remaining funds were supplied by HOLZMAN,Extension Animal Husband- from the range. His efforts in working the Section treasury. man, explained the importance of 40 WITH THE SECTION8

dqu& protein in the diet on selenium JESUS TORRE-IX, from the Philippine ranges. Isknds, WILSpresent as a guest. The These two selenium touw were the Section WLShonored by the :~ttendnnce best attended of the seven, indicittinp of directors of three state expwiment, the interest in this speeia-purpose type stations: Dr. F. F. Cow~ar of the of tour. Georgia. l!+eriment Station, Dr. F. P. Another June tour was held on C.utr KING of the Georgia Coastal Plain The second day was spent observing RUNDALL’S ranch, Kennebec. High- Experiment Station, and Dr. \V. G. forest and range work east of Fort lighted were tame grass-legume pss- KIRK of the Florida Range CtLttle %I- Flyers. The studies of the Southeastern tureu, used in the cool season to defer periment Station. Forest Experiment Station I~:TP de- native ranges, and other range manage- The first day was spat on the Rnngc scribed by CORDOX LANGDON nod Bolr ment and improvement practices. Bon Cattle l?xpcriment Station nt On;t and RUMMEL~. Then the group ,,XR tmas- XIYMIP, scs Conservationist. and the H. D. RVALS Ranch in De Sot” ported in 4.rheel drive trucks through SUNDALL handled the tour and discus- County. The Range Cattle Gperiment the extensive pasture? and cattle grazing sions that took place. Station is B part of the Florida Agri- operations of the Atl:mtic. L:tnd and During the heat of July, the section cultural Gperiment Station system. It Improvement Co. in the Devil’s Garden sponsored a range plant identiliciltion uxs established in 1940. Under the area. The Company, it suhsidixy of the field day at Roubniu Lake in the North- guidance of Dr. KIRK, research is con- Atlantic Coast Lint R:dlwn\-, is de- ern Blsrk Hills. H”WX~N trained the ducted on forage prodnction, beef cattle veloping forestry, mngc and cultivnterl group attending in grass identification. ALBEE discussed identification of forbs .,ci.. . and \v”od,yplants. . . ALLEN SMITH was host to So&t) members and friends at a tour of his 10,000 acre mnvh early in August. He erpluined his wuntersprei~ding systems, gully plugs nnd prnctieea, hqving and year around livestock manxgcment on the range. The most common mngc sites, native forage plants, and rnnffe condition l~ndutili~ntion,~e~etho~oughlr discussed by those attending. k:. 11. STROZI,SCS Conservationist, and SMITH made this tour R grand success. Our seventh tour took place August 31 on the L~oro GILBERT ranrh near Buffalo. This and the other ranch tours xvere co-sponsored by the Iowl Soil Conservittion district and the South Dakota Aertion. GILBERT, J\7~~~~v.4~ breeding and feeding, and nxmagement agricultural Ipsowces on its eutensirc HORN, chairman, Harding County of range, p:LStul.eSand wttle. Dr. E. .\I. holdings and is cooperating in reseuch District, and MEL AKIN, SCS Carl- Hcm~ts, agronomist, showed the pns- projects. The Company provided a most servetionist, lined up an interesting ture vork with Psngols grass, Argentine satisfying lunch at its ranch hmd- tour and program, and excellent noon and Pensacola bahins, carp&grass, quarters. Our thanks to BILL S~a,u- luncheon. Diwussi”n8 throughout the Suwannee and coMaI Bermodas and MAN f”7 ‘a swell day! day centered on identification and char- such legurnev as white clover, hairy At the business merting, 13~ Rum- acteristics of range plants, range sites indigo, lespedezes and others. The cattle MELL reported .54 active members in and condition, training in determining herd and feeding work, rr-eredescribedby the S&ion. Chsirrnnn Bou CAHP~ELL degrees of grazing use and revegetntion F. M. Petcock, animal husbnndmnn; reported for R. E. ~Vu.rnw that the of sandhill blowouts using the sew-hay and the soils and fertiliser studies by southern range resources pamphlet is method. D. TI. JO~YES.I!?qrerimental tree plnnt- about ready for publication. ings in the area were demonstrated by The report of the Section Plnnning H. TT. &LIS of the Florida Forest Committee, prepnred by .J”HN CAMADT, SJLITHERN Service. showed the Section voted +~,remain :IS The third annual meeting of the The late afternoon of the first d:tp n single Southern Section until the Southern Section ww held on September was went on the DeSoto Count>, ran& membership increase* further, hut t,” 3 and 4 at Ona and Fort blyers, Florids. of H.‘D. RYALS, who makes use of both form two ehq~ters. More than 35 men attended the field nittive range and improved pastures in The group voted to meet at Akwn- trips, with delegations from Florida, raising slaughter rattle. dria, Louisi:mn, in 1955. Georgia, North Carolina md Looiuizm~. The Section ynre a resounding vote WITH THE SECTIONS 41

of thanks to Lornl Arrangements Co,,,- and DOE TAYLOR gave a run dorr-n of A. HARRIS and Supervisor ABORT mittee Dr. Kme and Ron RUM~XELL Innd settlement and usage in the area ALHERTSON of the Dixie rational and to the sponsors of the tours for a as they had seen it in their lifetimes. Forest. swell meeting. This fratnre was wll received and tied The informal reremony took place A fitting srqwl to the meeting was to IV. L. M.IPCONKIC’Shistorical tale of during a range tour of southwestern tho drep SW fishing trip on Sunday, the previous night. Utah, one of three such affairs ron- September 5. The deep sea p:rt didn’t After hmch, A. I’~RRY PLUMIIER, ducted by the Utah Section. Lg1.a~~ work out too well, but t,he still-fishing Chairman of the Utah S&ion, thanked Hsswoon, CONW.%Y E. PARRY, and in baekwnters did. Ask any of the five the hosts and everyone concerned IT-ith stoakmsn ANTHONY V. A~rrrx made fellows l\-hohooked into 5.foot tarpon.- making the trip x rousing success. The the aRangements for the trip. R. S. Cmpbell. members could choose their independent routes of returning horn-past the On August 3, 1954, thirty-six youths UTAH Arches National >fonnment, Natural from all sections of Utah checked in Fif@-one members of the Utah Sec- Bridges, Capitol Reef, Bryee or Dead Itt the Tony Grove Camp in Logan tion uwe the two-day guests of stoek- Horse Point. Driving across that hig Canyon to attend the first annual Utah man CH~RLEY REDD, D.&LEKINN.~,WN country they had ample opportunity to Conservation Summer Camp-a four (BLM) nnd QUE HANSEN (Forest witness :we~s in which progressive stock- day experience in wildland manxgement. Service) on September 3 and 4, 1954, men me nvcrcoming the complex owner- The camp was one of the projects under- for a tour of ranges in southeastern ship pattern of state, private and federal taken by the Utah Section under direc- Utah. The tour circled La&l Mountain where current uranium activity goes forward at nn amazing rate. The group nssemhled nt La Srtl Jonc- tion between Moah and Monticello, Utah, shortly after noon of September 3. Mr. REDD extended his personal wel- come to each of the trsvelers, hoping that none of them would get uranium fever and drop bv the wayside. It didn’t take long to convince everyone that there was more than mineral wenlth in this land of upside-down mountains. The soil was deep, had good drainage, and reseedings on Mr. REDD’S public domain and Forest Service ranges showed remarkably good takes. Steak, sour-dough biscuits, pan-fried spuds and Green River ~vatermelons featured a big open-pit harheque feed land and rough, raw country by co- tion of its Project Chairman, GRANT A. arranged hy the hosts at Redd Ranches operative effort, ingenuity and invest- HARRIS. Pine Lodge. The night was spent under ment. The young folks wei-e selected from the stars. Dr. L. A. STODDART,ART 4-H. FFA and Bov Scout units. The SMITH,BEN MARKHAMand some of the The first of a. series of signs designnt- prime requisite wai that each of the others spent the night in an evaucated ing range types was erected on May 11, young people have a good record in bull pen acquiring the aroma of true 1954 by the Utah Section and land conservation work and a real interest range managers. STODDART reported management agencies. Thirty members in learning technics of forest, range and that his students thought his lectures of the Utah Section participated in the wildlife management. Recreation in the smelled that wsy for quite a few years. dedication program far tho series which form of games and an overnight trek to H&m and eggs with lots of hot coffee is designed to call the attention of the White Pine Lake w&s also included. got the gang started again at 7:00 a.m. casual observer to the important range This first attempt at an organized for Wray Mesa, Paradox Valley and types in the state. Confiervation Camp was a ringing suc- Taylor Flat. Reseeding, natural come- The project is & part of the program cess and drew favorable editorial eom- back and s”me overused areas were of the Projects Committee of the Ser- ment in the Salt Lake Tribune. The visited before lunch was served by tion. Appropriate remsrka nhout the Utah s&ion is extremely proud to members of the Grand County Horse value of type marking, the pride of the have heen able to join with the Utah and Cattle Association. Association Section in participating in the project Extension Service, School of Forestry President LWTER TAYLOR and his wife and the value of the Cliffrose (Cowan&x and the State Board of Forestry in in- were on hand to make sure that no one shnsburiana) type ,vare offered hy stituting the program. From all indica- went hungry. Section Chairman A. PERRY P~.u~\ren, tions it will be a regular annunl oc- Old-timers JOHN PACE, ANDY Rroo~r: Project Committee Chairman GRANT curremx-Bill Hart. SOCIETY BUSINESS

PROGRAM Heady, University of California, Hormay, California Forest and Range Eighth Annual Meeting Berkeley Experiment Station, Berkeley, Cali- Evaluation and measurement of soil fornia American Society of Range condition. Ralph 0. Lewis, Soil Con- Elk-livestock competition. l\lel I\lorris, Management . servation Service, Washington, D. C. 3Iontana Cooperative Wildlife Re- Sainte Claire Hotel Evaluation and classification of game search Unit, University of JIontana, forage condition. 3Lfissoula San Jose, California A range condition score card for rancher A rancher’s viewpoint. E. W. Chilson, January 25, 26, 27, 28, 1955 use. E. H. McIlvain, U. S. Southern Rancher, Winslow, Arizona Great Plains Field Station, Wood- Population dynamics of big game herds. ward, Oklahoma Dr. A. Starker Leopold. University of AFI’ERNOON California, Berkeley REGULAR ANNUAL PROGRAM Plains game and livestock use of South- Meeting of Section Chairmen SESSIONS ern Kenya grasslands. (Illustrated> Technical Session Meeting Wednesday, January 26 Fred Johnson, Forest Service, North- ern Region, Missoula, Montana Technical Papers in Range MORNING Management Range Management in the United EVENING Chairman: Dr. L. A. Stoddart, Head, States Kodachrome Slide Contest, in charge Department of Range Management, Chairman : Incoming Vice-President of Les Albee, Soil Conservation Utah State Agricultural College, Lo- President’s Address-presented by A. Service, Rapid City, South Dakota gan, Utah P. Atkins, 1954 Vice-President, Guy- Colored movie-Sheep Ranch Opera- Use of regression for range research. mon, Oklahoma tion. Otto J. Wolff, Rancher, Rapid Arnold M. Schultz, University of Public land policy. Orme Lewis, As- City, South Dakota California, Berkeley sistant Secretary, Department of Botanical composition of the annual Interior, Washington, D. C. Thursday, January 27 grassland as affected by fertilization Where have we been and where are we ogtwo soils near Berkeley, California. going in range management. Dr. A. MORNING A,‘?Kadish, University of California, W. Sampson, University of California, Utilization of Grass Berkeley Berkeley A capacitance meter for estimating Fifty years of change in vegetation in Chairman : Forrest Bassford, Editor, forage. Joel E. Fletcher, Agricultural the Central High Plains. Dr. H. L. Western Livestock Journal, Los Research Service, Tucson, Arizona Shantz, Santa Barbara, California Angeles, California and Max E. Robinson, College of Utilization and management of crested Southern Utah, Cedar City AFTERNOON wheat pastures. Dr. Joseph H. Field tests using the capacitance forage Panel Discussion : Livestoclc-Big Game Robertson, University of Nevada, meter. Max E. Robinson and Joel E. Relationships Reno, Nevada Fletcher Chairman : Ross Leonard, Director, Effects of grazing and climate on grass- Panel Discussion : Measurement and Idaho Fish and Game Department, lands. Dr. G. W. Tomanek, Kansas Evalqation of Range Condition Boise, Idaho State College, Manhattan, Kansas Chairman: Dr. C. H. Wasser, Dean, Forage requirements, livestock and big Relationship of utilization to range School of Forestry, Colorado Agri- game. D. I. Rasmussen, Intermoun- condition and effective cover. Ben cultural and Mechanical College, Ft. tain Region, Forest Service, Ogden, Osborn, Soil Conservation Service, Collins, Colorado Utah Midland, Texas Factors to consider in evaluation of Range survey methods used on the Ft. The effect of the 1949-53 drought on vegetation condition. Dr. David F. Peck Game Range, Montana. Max the ranges of Texas. Dr. Vernon Costello, Pacific Northwest Forest Bridge, Bureau of Land Manage- Young, Texas A. & M. College, and Range Experiment Station, Port- ment, Washington, D. C. College Station land, Oregon New trends in deer management. Changes in the Desert Grassland-an Importance of floristic composition. Dr. Richard D. Taber, University of Cali- analysis of causes. Dr. R. R. Humph- E. J. Dyksterhuis, Soil Conservation fornia and Wm. P. Dasmann, Cali- rey, University of Arizona, Tucson Service, Lincoln, Nebraska fornia State Game Department Proper range use and what it means to Evaluation and measurement of the Possibilities of improvement of game the producer. Kenneth Conrad, California annual type. Dr. Harold F. forage. M. L. Talbot and A. L. Rancher, Wray, Colorado

42 SOCIETY BUSINESS 43

AFTERNOON Forest and Range Experiment Sta- A ‘i-member Executive Committee tion, Berkeley directs the activities of the organiza- Range Forage Improvement in the A southwestern rancher’s viewpoint of tion; liaison of the Conference with the United States shrub control. Frank Boice, Empire U. S. Dept. of Agriculture will be ob- Chairman: Victor P. Osterli, Agricul- Ranch, Sonoita, Arizona tained by designation of a staff member tural Extension Service, Davis, Cali- as Secretary of the Conference. fornia Symposium on California Grasslands As a national nongovernmental or- Improvement of native range through ganization interested in the objectives Chairman: Wm. S. Rosecrans, Chair- new grass introductions. John L. of the FAO, the American Society of man, California State Board of SchLvendiman, Soil Conservation Serv- Range Management was invited to Forestry, Sacramento ice Nursery, Pullman, Washington participate in the organizational meet- Historical Backgrounds of Rangeland Sulfur fertilization at the San Joaquin Ex- ing of the National Conference held on Use in California. L. T. Burcham, perimental Range. Lisle R. Green, Ag- September 16, 1954. The report of Department of Natural Resources, ricultural Research Service, O’Neals, Dr. 0. S. AAMODT, as delegate to the Sacramento, California California; Kenneth A. Wagnon, Uni- Conference, follows : Ecology of California Grasslands. Dr. versity of California, Davis; and Jay “The morning session was primarily Harold H. Biswell, University of R. Bentley, California Forest aid one of review of the present status of California, Berkeley Range Experiment Station, Berkeley the FAO and its work, and discussions Management and Improvement of Improvement through water spreading. of the present status of the world food California Grasslands. Dr. Merton Royale K. Pierson, Bureau of Land situation. The afternoon papers cen- Love, Dr. W. A. Williams, and Dr. LManagement, Washington, D. C. tered around the panel discussions on John P. Conrad, Agronomy Depart- A rancher’s viewpoint of range im- technical assistance programs of FAO ment, University of California, Davis provement. J. Kenneth Sexton, Chair- and the recent position taken by the man, California Section, ASRM, AFTERNOON Congress of the United States disap- Willows proving of some of the modifications in Field trip near San Jose. (If weather is the control of funds in the councils of Range Forage Improvement Elsewhere inclement, arrangement will be made the United Nations. for visiting an agricultural imple- Range improvement and management “To date the technical assistance ment manufacturing plant). problems in Argentina. E. J. Wool- funds allocated to the United Nations folk, Southeastern Forest and Range have been prorated to the various Experiment Station, Asheville, North agencies such as FAO, UNESCO, WHO, Carolina etc. The change in procedure called for Development of creeping rooted alfalfa distribution of the funds through a strains for dryland pastures. Dr. central operating agency in the United Dave H. Heinrichs, Department of Nations with allotments to the in- Agriculture, Swift Current, Canada Report of Society Representative to dividual countries on a portional or Establishing an irrigated pasture pro- the National Conference on FAO agreed basis. U. S. State Department representatives present at the Con- gram in Mexico. Albert L. Brown, In recognition of the need to keep ference seemed to defend the action F.A.O., Mexico D.F., Mexico the American public informed of the taken by the United Nations Council, activities of the Food and Agricultural EVENING but representatives of our farm or- Organization, a National Conference ganizations, who had asked Congress to Annual Banquet on FAO, consisting of nongovernmenta defer making appropriations for 1955 organizations, held its first meeting Friday, January 211 until the whole situation could be September 16, 1954. Functions of the studied, seemed to feel that some al- MORNING National Conference as outlined in its ternative procedure might be prefer- prospectus are to provide liaison be- Brushland Improvement for Grazing able. One of the chief proposals has been tween its organizational members and Use the making of direct allotments to each FAO officials prior to biennial FAO of the agencies without going through Site characteristics as a guide to shrub conferences and to arrange public the United Nations headquarters or hardwood control. Hurlon C. Ray, conferences and other facilities for the Council .” Soil Conservation Service, Fayette- dissemination of information on the ville, Arkansas world food and agricultural situation Brush conversion by fire and other and the work of the FAO of special means. Jay R. Bentley, California interest to the U. S. James T. Jardine (1881-1954)

James T. Jardine, who died in Wash- on the development of range lnanagement herding system, now generally practiced ington, D. C. on October 24, 1954, was and range research are expressed in the on better managed sheep range. one of the pioneers in range manage- following tribute prepared b!y Dr. W. A. In 1910 Jardine initiated range re- ment and an outstanding agricultural DAYTON of the lT. S. Forest Service. connaissance, a system of mapping leader of the nation. His scientific and Jardine, together with the late Fred- range areas of the national forests by administrative contributions have had erick V. Coville, Albert F. Potter and vegetational types, together with ob- great influence on agricultural progress Will C. Barnes, and the still living Leon taining palatability and quantitative during the first half of this century. The F. Kneipp and Arthur W. Sampson, data whereby better estimates could nine Bankhead-Jones regional research was a pioneer in range management be made of carrying capacity, seasons laboratories, including the Sheep Breed- and range research in this country. His of grazing, adaptation to class of live- ing Laboratory at Dubois, Idaho and father, an Idaho rancher, had a flair stock, needs for fencing, water develop- the Pasture Research Laboratory at for the classics, and, as James was his ment, salting, etc. From these studies State College, Pa., are lasting monu- third son, gave him the middle name of and his depth of experience a stream ments to the spirit of close State and Tertius. of publications appeared, including: Federal relationships in agricultural re- After the founding of the United “Preliminary report on grazing experi- search and development made effective States Forest Service in 1905 the range ments in a coyote-proof pasture,” with by Jardine while Chief of the Office of situation soon appeared as a most an introduction by F. V. Coville (1908); Experiment Stations. troublesome problem facing the new “The pasture system for handling range Jardine was the son of a Scottish organization. With the initiation of sheep” (1910) ; ‘Coyote-proof inclosures immigrant and the brother of William grazing permits and feeds for use of in connection with range lambing M. Jardine, who became Secretary of national forest range the need of scien- grounds” (1911); “Mea.t situation in the Agriculture under President Coolidge. tific range research shortly became ap- United States” (1916) ; “Improvement He was born at Cherry Creek, Idaho, parent. Dr. Coville was called on for and management of native pastures in and spent a large part of his first 14 advice ; stockmen suggested the ap- the West” (1916); “Increased cattle years riding the range on his father’s pointment of William M. Jardine, later production on Southwestern ranges,” ranch. He obtained his ‘bachelor’s de- Secretary of Agriculture. The late Dr. with Leon C. Hurtt (1917); “Range gree in civil engineering at Utah State Frederic E. Clements, the eminent and cattle management during drought” Agricultural College, and attended the authority on plant ecology, suggested (1922), and, what is still a classic in its University of Chicago in 1905 and 1906. his student, Arthur W. Sampson. field, “Range management on the After returning to Utah State Agri- W’illiam Jardine told Coville, “I am national forests,” with Mark Anderson cultural College to teach, he became a a dairy man; the man you want is (1919). Unfortunately this last work special agent for the U. S. Forest Service my brother, Jim.” As a result, James appeared at a time when Congressional in 1907. In the following 10 years he Jardine was appointed in 1907 as a action limited the size of Federal agri- advanced in the Forest Service from special agent of the Forest Service, later cultural publications to less than 100 deputy forest supervisor in 1908 to becoming a deputy forest supervisor pages and much of the valuable ma- inspector of grazing and in charge of and still later inspector of grazing. In terial had to be eliminated. During this range investigations and surveys from 1910 he became the first Chief of Grazing period Jardine published many articles 1910 to 1920. In 1920 he became director Studies (now the Division of Range in technical and livestock journals, deal- of the Oregon Experiment Station, Management Research) in the Forest ing with grazing and timber reproduc- serving there until 1931, when he was Service, a position he held until he left tion, range improvement, grazing sheep the Forest Service in 1920 to become named Chief of the Office of Experiment without water, pastures and sheds on Director of the Oregon Agricultural range lambing grounds, etc. Stations in the U. S. Department of Experiment Station. In addition to his practical range Agriculture. In addition to this assign- In 1907 Jardine started the Billy experience and his training as an engi- ment, under which he administered the Meadows fenced pasture experiments neer, Jardine had a keen analytical Federal-grant funds to State experiment on the Wallowa National Forest, north- mind, had specialized in English at the stations, he was named Director of Re- eastern Oregon, which provided the University of Chicago, and had taught search for the Department of Agri- first statistics on what improved man- English at the Utah Agricultural Col- culture in 1936, which position he held agement will do with range and range lege. As a result he was a superb critic until December, 1941. He retired as livestock when provided with protection and editor of range manuscripts and all Chief of the Office of Experiment Sta- from predators and also gave birth to Forest Service publications in this field tions in 1946. a better method of handling range during his period of service importantly Jardine’s contributions and iyfluence sheep-the “bedding out” or open- reflect Jardine’s services.

44 NEWS AND NOTES

Meetings and Conferences mental Range (ARS and U. S. Forest the spring months in Libya, Egypt, Joint Committee on Grassland Service) and the New Mexico A. and M. Saudi-Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Pakistan Farming College Ranch. Discussions and demon- and Lebanon. strations featured range management, It was recognized that assistance in The Joint Committee on Grassland recovery from drought, reseeding and a well-rounded program of range man- Farming held its annual meeting, No- livestock management. Guest speaker agement can play an extremely im- vember 13 and 14, 1954 at Jacksonville, on the noon program was LEAVITT portant role in improving the welfare Florida featuring Grassland Farming BOOTH, past president of the Colorado of Near East countries. Program recom- in the Deep South. Topics and guest Cattlemen’s Association. D. F. BEARD, mendations developed by the FOA team speakers included : Potentialities of Head, Forage and Range Section, Agr. stressed the following: increase in num- Coastal Plain grasslands with heavy Res. Service, Beltsville, Md.; RAYMOND ber of range management technicians fertilization, G. W. BURTON, Georgia PRICE, Director, Rocky Mtn. Forest through training and establishment of Coastal Plain Expt. Sta.; Pasture and Range Expt. Sta., Fort Collins, a Near East short course in range man- studies in Florida, Iowa and Kansas, Colo. ; and JOHN W. BRANSON, Presi- agement; recognition of the place of GORDON B. KILLINGER, Univ. of Florida; dent, New Mexico A. & M. College grazing management as a means of im- Trace elements in animal nutrition in welcomed the visitors and introduced proving the range; initiation of applied Florida, G. K. DAVIS, Univ. of Florida; participants in the program. research studies; emphasis on the use of Year-round forage program for Georgia, indigenous equipment for earth moving B. H. HENDRICKSON, SCS, Watkins- Soil Conservation Society Meets at and seeding; establishment of a national ville, Ga.; Range cattle industry in Jacksonville, Iclorida range or forage and fodder development Florida, W. G. KIRK, Univ. of Florida The ninth annual meeting of the Soil council; and regional interchange of Expt. Sta.; and Future of the beef cattle Conserva,tion Society of America was information regarding range manage- industry in the South, IRLO BRONSON, held at Jacksonville, Florida on No- ment. former president, Florida Cattlemen’s vember 15-17, 1954. Discussion topics Interest and support in the problems Association. included use of woodland resources, of land classification, land use, tenure,’ economic and social aspects of grassland settlement, etc. and their solution must Range Field Day Held at Woodward, farming, and water resource manage- Oklahoma be developed in order to implement a ment. Session chairmen included R. E. national production program in these The U. S. Southern Great Plains Field MCARDLE, Chief, U. S. Forest Service; countries in which a substantial portion Station at Woodward, Oklahoma held Dr. H. B. SPRAGUE, Head, Agronomy of the population is dependent for liveli- its annual Range Improvement Field Dept., Pennsylvania State College; hood on livestock and forage provided Day, October 13,1954, under the leader- D. A. WILLIAMS, Administrator, Soil from uncultivated lands. ship of E. H. (PAT) MCILVAIN, Super- Conservation Service. The keynote ad- intendent. Guest speakers on the pro- dress “The land-source of our Iowa State Forestry Department gram included: J. S. MCCORKLE:, Soil strength” was given by Governor H. E. Celebrates 50th Anniversary Conservation Service, Albuquerque, TALLMADGE of Georgia. An estimated 400 forestry alumni New Mexico; JERRY SOTOLA, Livestock and friends gathered at Iowa State Bureau, Armour & Co., Chicago, Ill.; FOA Team Reports on Range Im- College at Ames to help the Depart- and JAY TAYLOR, President, American provement in Near Eastern ment of Forestry celebrate its 50th Countries National Cattlemen’s Association, Ama- anniversary on October 15 and 16, 1954. rillo, Texas. A ranchers’ panel, consist- In the spring of 1954, the Foreign Special awards for meritorious service ing of A. P. ATKINS, Guymon; KENNETH Operations administration requested to forestry and conservation went to STARNES, Arnett; and CHARLIE GARD- the Departments of Agriculture and the following : I. T. BODE, Director, NER, Woodward, featured range im- Interior to provide a team of specialists Missouri Conservation Commission ; provement programs of Northwest to assist the U. S. Operations Missions FRED E. BOECKH, Minnesota and On- Oklahoma cattlemen. and host governments in several Near tario Paper Co., International Falls, The field tour included an inspection Eastern countries in evaluating range Minnesota; PAUL M. DUNN, Dean of of the Experimental Range with em- improvement potential, and to offer Forestry, Oregon State College; EDWIN phasis on the third year of grazing recommendations on range management F. HEACOX, Weyerhaeuser Timber Co., management and supplemental feeding and waterspreading. The team con- Tacoma, Wash.; DEWITT NELSON, Di- tests with cows. sisting of JOSEPH F. PECHANEC, Chief, Division of Range Management Re- rector, California Dept. of Natl. Re- Jornada Ranch Qay Program search, Forest Service; Dr. OLAF S. sources ; GEORGE J. PECARO, The The fifteenth Jornada Ranch Day _~AMODT, Plant Scientist, Agricultural Flintkote Co., Los Angeles, Calif.; and was held October 11, 1954 under the Research Service; and FLOYD D. LAR- FRED B. TRENK, Extension Forester, joint sponsorship of the Jornada Experi- SON, Bureau of Land Management spent Wisconsin. 45 46 NEWS AND NOTES _

Graduation Assistants hips in Range the information. Dr. BROWN left New ning and carrying out tests and practical Available at Texas A. and M. York on October 20, 1954 and will programs of reseeding and management College headquarter in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. to restore rangelands seriously de- teriorated through hundreds of years of G-w.2 The Department of Range and For- overgrazing. He left for Libya in late estry at A. and M. College of Texas has CLARKE A. ANDERSON, range con- August, accompanied by Mrs. JOHNSON four research assistantships available servationist of U. S. Forest Service, and their three sons. February 1, 1955 for persons qualified Intermountain Region, left Washington for graduate work leading to the M.S. in late September on a 2-year assign- or Ph.D. in range management. The ment in Lebanon. Under the technical TOM DUDLEY, formerly with th6 assistantships are on a 12-months basis assistance program of the Foreign Bureau of Land RiIanagement office in and require part-time work throughout Operations Administration he will ad- Miles City, Montana, is in Jordan re- the year or full summers spent in field vise Lebanon officials on revegetation placing NORMAN FRENCH as Chief of research. The positions have stipends of of eroded forest and rangeland and help the FOA Cooperative Department for $1550 to $1700 for candidates with a train Lebanese personnel in the plans Range Resources Development. He will B.S. degree and $1740 to $2000 for can- of conservation as applied to such lands. continue the range and forestry techni- didates with an M.S. degree. An addi- He was accompanied by Mrs. ANDER- cal assistance program in that country. tional teaching assistantship is available SONand their daughter. on a g-months basis at $1200 ($1350 with IN THE FIELD M.S. degree). Interested students should ROSSER A. RUDOLPH, Range Con- contact Dr. V. A. YOUNG, Head, De- servationist in the Bureau of Indian HERBERT E. SCHWAN, originally as- partment of Range and Forestry, A. Affairs, became head of the Range hIan- signed to Saudi Arabia under FOA’s and M. College of Texas, College Sta- agement, Fish and Wildlife Section in Technical Assistance program, has tion, Texas. a new branch of Land Operations, as a recently been transferred to Iraq with result of the reorganization of the Bu- headquarters in Baghdad. He will serve Peterson Succeeds Coke as Asst. reau effective August 1, 1954. CHARLES as chief advisor to the Iraqi Ministry Secretary of Agriculture SCHRAMMis assistant head of the sec- of Agriculture and will help train a staff tion. RUDOLPH had previously headed ERVIN L. PETERSON,former director for a new range unit in the Ministry, up the Range Management activities in of the Oregon State Department of as well as assist in the solution of pres- the former Branch of Forest and Range Agriculture, was appointed Assistant sing problems involving the people, land Management. SCHRAMMwas in charge Secretary of Agriculture, November 15, and livestock on the badly depleted of Fish and Wildlife and Forest Pro- 1954, replacing J. EARL COKE. The new ranges of Iraq. Assistant Secretary will be in charge tection in the former Branch of Forest of the Department’s work in the field and Range Management. Both men are of Federal-States Relations, in which graduates of the University of Montana H. WAYNE SPRINGFIELDhas com- are included the USDA conservation, School of Forestry. pleted a 2-year technical assistance de- research and educational agencies. tail in Iraq under the Foreign Opera- Gy3 PETERSON received his education in tions Administration. SPRINGFIELD’S California and attended the University NEAL D. NELSON has accepted an work involved studies of vegetation of California in Los Angeles. He is a appointment as Assistant Range Man- types and range conditions, and the de- dairy farmer and native of North Bend, agement Officer to JERRY KERR in the velopment of plans for the production Oregon. Washington office of Bureau of Land and distribution of supplemental forage Management. For a number of years to relieve grazing pressure on deteri- RANGE MEN ABROAD NELSONwas associated with the Bureau orated ranges. During the last several of Entomology and Plant Quarantine months he was acting in charge of the Dr. GROVERF. BROWN, head agron- and the Forest Service in Public Land range program in Iraq for FOA. SPRING- omist for the Soil Conservation Service Administration. He is a veteran of World FIELDis returning to a position in range for the past 11 years, has resigned his War II, with three years active service management research with the Rocky position to direct the agricultural de- in the Army and presently in the Or- Mountain Forest and Range Experiment velopment work of the Arabian-Ameri- ganized Reserves with rank of Lieu- Station. can Oil Company in Saudi Arabia. Dr. tenant Colonel. He is a graduate of the BROWN’S first job will be to design, lay University of Idaho and has a B.S. de- out and direct the experimental work gree in forestry with a major in range in irrigation, use of fertilizers and crop- RICHARD C. JOHNSONof the South- management from the University of ping practices necessary to learn how to west Region, U. S. Forest Service, is Montana. use water most efficiently on the various in Libya on a 2-year technical assistance kinds of soils of the country. He will assignment in range management under then supervise demonstrations needed the Foreign Operations Administra- ROBERT GARTNER,graduate in range to show the local people how to apply tion. Johnson’s work will involve plan- management from the University of