During the last 5-year period there has been an average yearly cut of 12,000,000 board feet of lumber on the forest. Most of this was sawed at McPhee, where the largest sawmill in Colorado is located. It has a capacity of 80,000 board feet each working day. In previous years, it has sawed considerable timber cut from privately-owned land, but is now dependent largely upon timber from the forest. The spruce timber, of which there is a large amount on the Montezuma, is especially well suited for pulpwood. Timber is grown and cut in accordance with approved forestry methods. Mature trees to be removed are marked in advance of cutting by trained foresters. Trees which are not mature are left to be cut in later years. They respond to the influence of more light, soil moisture, and nutriment with greatly increased growth and also seed the open places. UTILIZATION OF FORAGE RESOURCES Raising livestock is a large and important industry in and adjoining the forest. Stock is wintered on the nearby ranches and depends for summer pasture on the forest ranges. Some 20,000 cattle and 66,000 sheep, owned by 285 stockmen, are grazed on the forest each summer. [Illustration: F-376871 MILL POND AT M’PHEE] [Illustration: F-80528 SHEEP GRAZING IN A GRASS PARK AREA OF THE MONTEZUMA] [Illustration: F-364895 IMPROVED PUBLIC CAMP AND PICNIC GROUNDS ARE AVAILABLE AT MANY ATTRACTIVE POINTS ON NATIONAL FORESTS AND ARE EQUIPPED WITH FIREPLACES, TABLES, AND SANITARY FACILITIES.] The handling of the summer range is a large undertaking. Distribution and management of livestock are carefully regulated to prevent damage to the forest growth and to conserve the forage resources. A cover of grasses and weeds must be retained to prevent erosion. Forest officers constantly study the ranges and work with stockmen in planning management of grazing and construction of improvements needed for the control of stock. In the allotment of range, previous use of the range and the raising of sufficient forage to feed stock during the winter are determining factors. The permanent ranch owner is given preference, which helps to stabilize the industry. HERE MINING IS ALSO IMPORTANT