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throughout the year. It is not easily affected by either drought or cold. 

 It will grow well on dry sandy soils and may be a valuable acquisition for 

 the Cumberland mountains. 



Festuca myurus (rat's-tail-fescue) and tenella (small fescue) are both 

 annual grasses which grow on dry sandy soils six inches to a foot in 

 height, and, as they appear early in the spring, they make a good sheep 

 pasture. 



Festuca duriuscula^ hard fescue, is a variation of the sheep fescue and 

 will thrive on poor sandy soils. It is of but little value where the soil 

 is fertile enough to produce better grasses. But for its hardy nature and 

 its adaptability to unfavorable situations it would not be mentioned. 



Differences in soil and situation cause these species to run into sev- 

 eral varieties and the narrow leaved species seem to lose their individu- 

 ality when grown on like soils and under similar conditions. Prof. 

 Buckman of the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester sowed in ex 

 perimental plots the seeds of Festuca ovinia. Festuca ruba and Festuca 

 duriuscula and for two years the specific differences were well marked but 

 in the third year these differences vanished and the appearance of all three 

 was practically the same. The creeping habit of the Festuca rubra was 

 totally lost. On poor upland regions, according to Mr. Gould, these 

 fescues assume the appearance of the Festuca ovina; on good uplands the 

 appearance of Festuca duriuscula and in river valley lands of Festuca 

 rubra. 



PERENNIAL RYE GRASS— RAY GRASS— (Lo/nim perenne-)— 

 (Meadow and Pasture). 



This grass has been in cultivation in England and Scotland since 

 1667 and in France for even a longer period. It is regarded in England 

 very much as timothy is in the United States, though it is difficult to see 

 the reason why. It is a short perennial, lasting usually from three to 

 seven years and in consequence of the shortness of its life it is not highly 

 esteemed for pasture. It is a good grass, however, for alternate hus- 

 bandry. 



SOILS — Like nearly all stoloniferous grasses it prefers a moist soil 

 and is especially suited to a low-lying clayey soil. The roots put out 

 several stems, which grow prostrate at the base. Upright stems ascend 

 from each joint of the prostrate stem, attaining a height of from two to 

 three feet. The stem is stiff; the spike is flattened and it is not an at- 

 tractive grass in appearance, but it has a full green tint except at the 

 joints of the stem, where it sometimes takes on a brownish hue. It has a 

 vigorous habit, starting early in the season and flowering early. It re- 

 quires one to two bushels of seed to sow an acre. It may be sown either 

 in the fall or spring when the land is in good condition. The preparation 

 of the land is the same as that for orchard grass. 



Prof. Beal does not think it well adapted to a southern climate as it 

 cannot bear great heat. It must have a cool climate and a moist soil. 

 These conditions of growth are found among the high mountains of East 

 Tennessee and I have no doubt it would grow with great luxuriance in 



