32 Bulletin 827, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



RECOMMENDATIONS. 



The improvement of the native pastures is the most important 

 problem of beef -cattle production in the Piney Woods. Although 

 there is an abundance of grass on the range it furnishes good graz- 

 ing for a short period only and the native grasses must be replaced 

 to a considerable extent by more desirable plants before the pastures 

 will have a high carrying capacity. A system of management must 

 be devised to bring about the gradual replacement of the native 

 grasses by facilitating the spread and natural reseeding of more de- 

 sirable d orage plants. 



Two very important forage plants, carpet grass and lespedeza, 

 have established themselves in practically every county of the Piney 

 Woods; and, while it is not advisable to discontinue the trial of other 

 pasture plants, ever}^ effort should be made to protect and facilitate 

 the spread of these two. At present there are no other plants known 

 which are so desirable and so well adapted to this region. The worst 

 enemy to the spread of carpet grass and lespedeza is fire. With 

 fencing, fire protection, removal of undesirable underbrush, and 

 proper stocking the natural spread of these two plants is rapid. 

 Every practical effort should also be made to protect the growth of 

 young pine on land not suited to cultivation. 



Fencing and fire control are the first two steps toward pasture 

 development. A fence establishes ownership and property lines, 

 keeps out scrub bulls and other cattle, aids in establishing fire con- 

 trols, and confines cattle to a definite area. The ranges deteriorate 

 rather than improve so long as fire runs over them annually. The 

 advantage of fire protection from the standpoint of increasing the 

 fertility of the soil and protecting desirable pasture plants is be- 

 yond question and has been repeatedly demonstrated by individual 

 owners. 



For the individual owner to prevent fires on his pasture when the 

 surrounding range is fired is a difficult matter, but it can be accom- 

 plished by constant watch, burning around the pasture, or plowing 

 a strip wide enough to stop fire. Prevention of fires is the most 

 logical method, but it can not be done until cattle owners and land 

 owners realize the destruction done. Accidental fires may be pre- 

 vented by precaution, but so long as the belief prevails that the 

 grazing of cattle is improved by annual burning of the range, set 

 fires will run over the range each year. Concerted action should 

 be taken by cattlemen and the owners of range land to start- an 

 educational campaign against fires and procure suitable legislation 

 for their prevention. 



If the land is to be used exclusively and permanently as pasture, 

 second-growth oaks should be kept down, because they will shade 

 pasture plants and occupy considerable space. Underbrush may be 



