Review by Choice Review
The history of western rangeland grazing from 1850 to the turn of the century is replete with legends of the cowboy, the cattle drives, Indian wars, and battles between stockmen. Much of the rangeland was destroyed by faulty logging, grazing, cultivation, and mining. The US Forest Service began management of grazing and by 1907 established grazing permits, limits on herd size, grazing seasons, allotment boundaries, and rental fees. These regulations were designed to protect natural resources and prevent monopolization of rangeland for any single purpose. Acceptance of these policies and land management techniques came slowly. The controversies, successes, and failures in bringing the national forests under scientific range management are told by Rowley in a fair and accurate manner and without excessive praise or condemnation for any person or administration. The book is good reading and is based on many references that are not readily available. For college, university, and public libraries.-H.F. Heady, formerly University of California, Berkeley
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
