Insect control, row spacing, and nitrogen fertilization were studied. Insect control increased seed set and seed yields of side-oats grama. Seed set and seed yields per acre were higher but caryopsis weight was lower from plantings in solid stands than from spaced rows. Nitrogen fertilizer maintained seed quality and increased seed set and yields of cleaned seed. Cultural practices to obtain maximum development of caryopses, as well as large yields, should be utilized because of the great importance of seed quality in stand establishment.

Brush invasion of grasslands continues to be a serious problem in southwestern Alberta. As moist draws and slopes are invaded by brush the amount of forage available for grazing is decreased. Mechanical control is usually practiced although chemical control has been utilized in control of willow or aspen regrowth.

Rootplowing and rootplowing combined with rootraking increased the density of pricklypear stands but decreased the density of other undesirable woody species. Chaining resulted in extremely dense stands of pricklypear. Dragging caused a great reduction in the density of the pricklypear but had only limited effects on other woody species. Dragging, followed by rootplowing appeared to decrease the density of all undesirable woody species. This dual operation resulted in the establishment of a relatively brush-free grassland, which with management and periodic maintenance, can produce a large quantity of desirable herbaceous forage on a sustained basis./El estudio se llevó a cabo en los planos del Río Bravo al sur de Texas. Se observó que tanto el desenraice con arado solo como el desenraice con arado combinado con rastreo aumentaron la densidad del nopal y disminuyeron la densidad de malezas arbustivas. El uso de cadenas resultó en nopaleras muy densas pero solo retardó el crecimiento de otras malezas arbustivas. En cada uno de estos métodos hubo una tendencia a cambiar de un tipo de vegetación dominante con arbustos a otro tipo con nopaleras densas. Una serie de rastreos (con barandillas) causó una reducción significativa en la densidad del nopal, pero el único efecto sobre las malezas arbustivas fue una reducción de crecimiento. Sin embargo, este método seguido de un desenraice con arado dio lugar a una disminución de la densidad de todas las malezas arbustivas incluyendo el nopal. Este método combinado dio lugar al establecimiento de un pastizal de zacates con pocas especies malas el cual con un manejo adecuado y un control periódico de mantenimiento de las especies indeseables que van a reinvadir puede producir una gran cantidad de forraje deseable proveniente de herbáceas sobre una base de mantenimiento.

A microscope point method was used to develop weight prediction equations for plant species in masticated forage samples of known species weights collected at the end of two successive growing seasons. A high correlation was found in regressions of percent weight on percent points for all the masticated plant species. Two observers were consistent in their ability to estimate similar amounts of plant species in a given species mixture. With 400 microscope points, the average weight of a species was estimated within 5% of the mean at a 90% level of probability when the species constituted 30 to 60% of the sample weight.

Some 47% of the world's land area is suitable only for grazing by domestic livestock and game animals-either frequently or occasionally. These rangelands support animals which provide most of the world's meat, milk, hides, wool, and other animal products. They have major values for watershed, wildlife habitat, soil and water conservation, fuel, and important by-products. Large areas are in poor condition, primarily because of overgrazing. The American Society of Range Management has an increasingly important role in focusing attention on the world's rangelands and in stimulating effective programs of research, education, and action.

Chemical analysis revealed that the principal forage species which comprised more than 95% of the California bighorn winter diet in the Ashnola watershed (British Columbia) contained sufficient crude protein, fat, fiber, ash, nitrogen-free extract, and calcium for maintenance. However, by the same standards, all species and notably the grasses, were deficient in phosphorus. Low phosphorus and moderate calcium levels produced unfavorable calcium: phosphorus ratios by mid winter. Columbia needlegrass, a principal increaser species and an unimportant item in the bighorn winter diet, was inferior to the other species investigated. Bluebunch wheatgrass, a decreaser species and the most important bighorn food species, appeared to be the most nutritious grass.