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Show Horseback Riders View Improved Ranges Through Reseeding By M. K. HOVEY ? Ranger A. P. Christiansen and j Assistant Forest Supervisor, Ona A. Harrison conducted a group of ; horse buck riders of the Logan Canyon Trails Committee and the Cache Canter Club over an excellent ex-cellent demonstration in Logan Canyon of what can be accomplished accom-plished by controlled grazing, re-seeding re-seeding and stirring up the soil. The area is the lower table land rolling hills east of the Forks known as the Mud Flau. Here are several thousand acres of good grazing land that nave been overgrazed in the past. Two years ego the local forest Department decided to improve this area. A project was adopted with Ranger Christiansen in charge.. The plat was divided into really four large mountain pastures pas-tures separated with good fences. About five hundred acres in eacn pasture can be reseeded with the aid of a large disc harrow. Whe"e the disc harrow cannot be used the seed is broadcast. Two pas-teurs pas-teurs were noted. One had been restricted to grazing for its second sec-ond year and one, one year. With the rains of this year and last year the grasses had made a re places with vegetation and conserves con-serves the water and soil. Otherwise Other-wise the erosion is faster and it is not long until much of the soil is washed away and there is ' less late water for irrigation. The horse back ride Wednesday was over a new trail. It leaves the Forks and extends along the main highway north just past the Cottonwood ridge where the river is forded and the trail winds up Chicken Creek to the top of tiie I broad table land or Mud Flats to I the south and east. Part way up i Chicken Creek is large Douglas fir by the side of the trail. This has been named the West tree in honor of Dr. F. L. West because of his interest in getting this trail established. There are many varieties var-ieties of flowers, plants, shrubs, and trees along the trail. Forester Harrison demonstrated his knowledge know-ledge and ability to tell the names of all the flowers and plants encountered en-countered with the exception of two flowers. He could not recall the names of these but promised to have the names by the next day. He could give the common as well as the scientific names. It was a pleasure to be with some one who could answer the questions. ques-tions. The group had lunch at the Mud Flat ranger station. This is a little cabin located in the center cen-ter of a beautiful meadow fenced with cold spring water. The lunch was one of the best on .the green grass, with the clear sunshine interspersed in-terspersed with beautiful fleecy clouds and high flying hawks. To add interest a large fat porcupine disputed the right to use one of Uncle Sam's Sanitary units. The ''Pore." had made its nest behind the door. Forester Harrison did not note this when he went in but he soon came out in a hurry. The "pore." had gnawed considerable consider-able of the wood. As it is considered con-sidered a detriment to the forests, he was dispatched at once. The group returned by way of Maughan hollow and the Right Hand Fork to the Forks. It was a very enjoyable and educational ride. markable growth. The cres&'d wheat grass; the brome and bul- , bous brome grasses, blue grass and others including the native grasses, are growing fast among the dock, sage and bitter brushes and other plants. Before the pro-jeot pro-jeot was started, the area had little but the dock weed and dust. Very little vegetative cover. Now it is coming back as one of the best grozirig areas of the entire canyon. The plan is to reseed these pastures and keep them restricted to grazing for three years. This permits the grasses to get firmly established. The pastures are alternated al-ternated so that one or more are in use all the time and one or more restricted and at the same time none are being over grazed. George Q. Bateman of the USAC has a similar plan for dairy pastures pas-tures at the college farm. These have demonstrated their value. At first some of the local stockmen stock-men were reluctant to forego the use of one or more of these mountain moun-tain pastures until they were re-seeded re-seeded but now they are convinced and good cooperation is had from the cattle grower associations. By stirring up the soil the native grasses grow much faster. It is just- a way of helping nature to produce more for our benefit. A similar area in Cottonwood Canyon in Black Smith Fork Canyon Can-yon has received the same treatment treat-ment and the results are excellent. Better and more feed are produced produc-ed for more cattle and at the same time our water sheds re-cieve re-cieve better protection. It was noted that the treatment soon fills up the gullies and eroded |