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Show : ' NATIONAL FORESTS HELP TO INCREASE MEAT SUPPLY As a war emergency measure the National Forest ranges, are carrying this summer approximately 100,000 more cattle and 200,000 more sheep than in ordinary years, according to the grazing experts of the Forest Service. Ordinarily the National Forests furnish pasturage for about 1.800,000 cattle and horses and 7,-000,000 7,-000,000 head o sheep. The number of livestock permitted on the forests is limited in order to prevent damage to timber growth, water supplies, and the range itself. This year exceptional weather conditions condi-tions combined with the general food situation to Create an unusual emergency, emer-gency, calling for special provisions to take care of the stock. A severe winter and late spring exhausted the hay supply and forced use of the spring ranges before they had reached reach-ed their normal state. To lessen the losses which the western livestock industry faced, the National Forest ranges were opened early. At the same time, the number of stock permitted per-mitted for the present season was I raised to the maximum consistent with safeguarding future productiveness. productive-ness. It is fully recognized that the increases in-creases which have been made in the allowances of stock on the National Forests involve danger that the range will be depleted through overgrazing, over-grazing, but it is believed by the grazing experts of the Government that the emergency increases made can he taken care of, at least this year, without material sacrifice of productive capacity. The condition of the ranges is, however, being carefully care-fully watched. Reliance is placed also on thS special efforts being made to secure the most intensive utilization consistent with sustained productiveness, by improved methods of handling the stock. Better salting salt-ing methods and the development of new watering places are among the means employed for this purpose. At the close of the grazing season, a careful examination will he made of the range on each forest to determine deter-mine its condition and to find out how many cattle or sheep it will support sup-port next season. On areas which are found to he over-grazed, an attempt at-tempt will he made to shift the surplus sur-plus stock to range which can stand the strain better. While the grazing officials do not j think that the increase could be carried car-ried indefinitely without sei'ious damage to the forage, regulated grazing has brought about a steady improvement of the range and some j areas will probably be able to sup- port the larger numbers permanently. permanent-ly. i ' A |