PASTURES FOR FLORIDA

 By R. E. BLASER, W. E. STOKES, J. D. WARNER,
 GEO. E. RITCHEY,1 and G. B. KILLINGER

 INTRODUCTION

 The large acreage of inexpensive cutover forest and prairie
land grazed by range cattle has been important in the develop-
ment of the cattle industry in Florida. The natural vegetation
of the range areas furnishes nutritious grazing during the early
spring months. Improved pastures, when properly managed,
furnished more feed of better quality than the natural vegeta-
tion of unimproved range land.
 During the last decade many dairymen and beef cattlemen
have purchased and fenced land. The ownership of land has
encouraged the establishment of improved pastures. There is
now a great demand for information on the planting and manage-
ment of pasture grasses and legumes. This bulletin summarizes
briefly the observations and results of investigations concern-
ing development, management and evaluation of pastures.

 NATIVE PASTURES
 In the early history of the cattle industry in Florida, only the
grasses growing naturally (native grasses) were used for graz-
ing. Cattle grazed over huge areas because the carrying ca-
pacity of native unimproved grasses is low, 1 animal unit
requiring 5 to 40 acres annually.
 Native vegetation on various unimproved ranges differs
widely, depending upon drainage, soil type, natural fertility and
other climatic or physical factors. Numerous grasses, legumes
and other plant types occur naturally on unimproved ranges.
The native legumes (Crotalaria, Galactia, Clitoria, Cracca and
others) are of very little grazing value.
 The native perennial grasses on the low soils of the cutover
flat pine lands are primarily the wiregrasses (Aristida and
Sporobolus spp.); other species such as wild oats (Sorghastrum
spp.), blue maidencane (Panicum spp.), broomsedges (Andro-
pogon spp.), Paspalum spp. and other plants (Fig. 1). The
native grasses in this group are generally of most value for
 1In cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture.