AGRICULTURAL GRASSES 55 



For dry billy pastui'es a considerable proportion of seed 

 should be included in the mixture. 



For illustration, description, and chemical analysis, see 

 5s. Edition. 



FESTUCA DURIUSCULA 

 {Hard Fescue). 



The common name applies solely to the flower-heads, 

 which, when ripe, become decidedly hard. The herbage, 

 however, is tender, succulent, and much hked by all kinds 

 of cattle. 



Hard Fescue forms one of the principal constituents of 

 the sheep pastures of this country. On all suitable soils it is 

 of importance in forming a close bottom to the turf among 

 stronger-gi'owing varieties, and in this respect is of especial 

 service for upland pastures. Sinclau- found Hard Fescue to 

 thrive best in Qova^^nY vdlh. Festuca prafcnsis ^ind Poa f?ivialis. 

 His experience is confirmed by my o"v^ii, and I also find that 

 when sovm. with Fine-leaved Sheep's Fescue a close and 

 nutritious crop is produced for sheep on down land. 



Early in spring Hard Fescue starts into gi-owth, flowering 

 at or a little before midsummer, and yields an abundant latter- 

 math. On moist and rich soils it affords an immense amount 

 of herbage, which sometimes gi'ows higher than the seed-stems, 

 and the plant will endure di'ought when the land is in good 

 condition. As the nutritive value is much diminished by 

 the formation of seed, the crop should be cut in time to prevent 

 deterioration. In hay the presence of this grass is generally 

 indicative of superior quality, and mountain gi-aziers insist that 

 Hard Fescue contains more ' proof ' than many varieties that 

 receive a higher character from the chemist. 



Festuca duriusada is more robust in growth than F. ovina 

 temiifolia, and occupies a position among the smaller Fescues 



