Pastures for Florida


 FIG 5.-PROTECT FENCE LINES.
Thorough destruction of palmetto and wiregrass and planting of improved
 grasses protect fence lines from fire.

which increases the durability of posts. Surface applications
of zinc chloride or creosote do not increase the length of life
of sap posts appreciably.2
 Although the moisture requirements of pasture plants differ
greatly, reasonably moist soils are considered most desirable.
Shallow surface water often causes scalding and death of seed-
ling plants. Certain pasture sods are also retarded or seriously
injured by standing water.
 Water control should be planned carefully to avoid overdrain-
age, which accentuates drouth. Shallow ditches are usually
satisfactory for removing excess water from flat pine land.
 Certain prairie lands or other areas subject to flooding require
deep ditches for satisfactory control of the water level. If
deep ditches are used, water gates should be provided to retard
or withhold the water flow during dry periods (Fig. 6). Pastures
are often unproductive during dry seasons because of excess
drainage.

 DESTROYING OBJECTIONABLE VEGETATION
 The first essential factor for establishing improved pasture

 2 For information on impregnating posts with preservatives, write the
School of Forestry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.