Show M p i > 1 FOREST RESERVES 1 11 I II i i t Iii Investigations of Them by the Agricultural r H i Agri-cultural Department fl I Correspondence Tribune J I 1 I I Washington D C Feb s Messrs I j1 Gifford PInchot chief of the I ot division 1 I I of forestry and Frederick l B Colevllle 1 p j chief botanist of the Agricultural department 1 t partment are preparing a report upon I i the investigations made by them last ii I Lt kJ summer of the Black Mesa forest reserve J i re-serve in Arizona with reference to the i I I F 1 disputed quqstipn of sheep grazing on It I the reserve These gentlemen spent I I 1 1 several months on the reserve and I tq l were accompanied by representatives I T of the 311oopmcn of Arizona and the li I tin i irrlgatlonlets of the country In the l tle jl nIghborhood of Phoenix i nfIghbothoo the two con i f j i liT flicting Interests t mClng Inercsts as regards the use of il the reserve for sheep grazing Whll Ii S not giving the details and more actual results and conclusions of the Investigation I I I Investi-gation it is known that in a general t I 3 1 1 way the experts of the Agricultural Ii II I I department have concluded that sheep I I d grazing under proper rules regula r propel I I I tions and restrictions is not inimical flI Lf 4 to forest preservation ind growth ti1i 1 They found many large tracts of graz I lag lands within the boundaries of the I I fti I reserve upon which sheep could be t grazed not only without Injury to the I surrounding forests but with direct I benefit Harvesting the grass cr6p by i Il means of grazing sheep over It tends I < ii to keep down the ank growthwhich r 1 otherwise is h source of forest fire In j fact It is found that fires aro of le = s t F I riiJ frequency on reserves where sheep are i i grazed than on those from which sheep j > are barred I S During the coming summer t a more I mle 1 extensive Investigation of tho forest reserves of the West will be made with r I a view to obtaining further Informa r lon on this Important subject l ItI3 I beloved that the result Will be Gle r formulation of a set of rules and reg I ulations under which I sheep In re > i strlcted numbers will be permitted to i t graz on the forest reservations and 0 that these rules will be satisfactory h S not only to the sheepmen but to the t JrrlgatlonlstH who desire to retain the Il 1 I forest growths C A AvllAMIITON |