6 0ONT111HITTION8 FROM THE JTATK^NAL HERBARILTM- 



ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE. 



Several of the species of Festuca are of high agricultural value, both 

 for grazing aiid for meadows. Among the former perhaps; the most 

 important is Feduca ovlna^ the sheep fescue, and its numerous sub- 

 species, some of which arc found native in most parts of the woi-ld. 

 The most vidual)Ic American grass of this group is \)vo]yAh\y Fcduca 

 noma hiijrafit Uackcl, the ^M)lue bunch grass" of stockmen, which 

 ranges from British rohiml)ia imd Alberta to California and Colorado. 



In parts of the range t^ountrj^, notably tlie Columbia Basin, it is con- 

 sidered the second best of the range o-rasscs- In Arizona and New 



r^ i=> 



Mexico this grass is replaced by the larger and coarser, but not less 

 nutritious, Arizona bunch grass, F. ovina arlzoiiica (Vasey) Hack, 

 Other sul)species of Festuca ovma occur in alpine and subarctic 

 regions, and furnish more or less abundant forage, 



Festuca rtihra L,, the red fescue, occurs in abundance along both 

 sea coasts in sandy soil, and in the West is plentiful in the mountains 

 at low altitudes. In resti'ieted areas it is an important forage grass. 



Fedaca altalca Trin. is a))uiidant in Alaska, often covering" laro-e 



areas with its larj^c tussocks. Froiu very limited experience with it 

 this grass seems to be quite as nutritious as its near allies. 



Feduca vlridula Vasej^ is the most nutritious grass in the mountain 

 parks of the Cascade, Blue, and Bitter Root mountains. It often 

 occupies large areas in nearly- pure growth. Unfortunately it is 

 unable to withstand severe grazing, and consequently w^here sheep 

 have been herded this grass has well-nigh disappeared. 



The annnal spt-cies, especially Fedaea odofora^ are of considerable 

 value in semiarid grazing regions. They spring up very (piickly when 

 the rainy season begins in the fall, furnishing grazing when nothing 

 else is available, and again in earl3- spring the}' provide the first green 



forage. 



Festuca elatior L., the tall fescue, a European species, is very valu- 

 able as a hay and pasture grass, but in this country is little grown 

 as yet, except in the eastern portion of Kansas and Nebi-aska. A 

 smaller form of it, the meadow fescue, used only in pastures and 

 lawns, is sometimes known in this country as English blucgrass, or 

 techni(^ally, as Festuea pratensis Iluds. or Festuca elatior pratensis Gray. 

 According to the best European authorities, however, F. elatior L. 

 and F. pratensis Huds. are exactly identical, so that, whatever be the 

 distinction of the two forms agriculturally, the botanical names both 

 belong with tall fescue. 



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