A study of the production of livestock and timber on leasehold land is discussed in the context of the philosophy or mythology of multiple use, and in terms of the application of an economic model to the choice between combinations of outputs. It is argued that unless the concept of multiple use can be rigorously defined to permit quantitative evaluation of combinations of outputs, it is not altogether helpful as a management system. While there remain some severe problems in the application of the economic model of joint production, it does encourage rigorous analysis of the problem. A limited, empirical study of grazing and timber production is reported in this framework and in terms of impending legislation which will affect certain timbered grazing lease lands. Under existing management levels the optimal form of multiple use may be single use, that is, livestock only; and in these conditions the new legislation may well be desirable. Under improved timber and livestock management, and at cypress pine increments higher than 100 super feet per acre per year, the economic desirability of the new legislation in the study area appears an open question because multiple use systems are as profitable as systems with livestock only.
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