52 SHEEPS' FESCUE. 



CHAPTER Xiri. 



SIIEEPS' FESCUE. 



Festuca Ovina — Speeific Character. 



Panicle somewhat one-sided, short, usually more 

 or less compound, open in flowering ; spikelets 3 

 to 8 flowered ; awn not more than half the length of 

 the flower, often much shorter or almost wanting. 

 Indigenous in Northern New England, Lake Supe- 

 rior and Northward : naturalized farther south as a 

 pasture, grass. Flowers in June and ripens seeds in 

 July. 



The Sheeps' Fescue is easily distinguished 

 from the festuca duriuscula, by its dwarf and more 

 tufted habit of growth ; its short, stiff, upright leaves 

 and above all by its square like culms or stalks ; its 

 quality of produce is much inferior to that of the 

 other cultivated Fescues, but it is admirably adapted 

 for growing on elevated, moorish sheep-pastures, and 

 is so well liked by these animals that it has been said 

 they have no relish for pasture except where it exists. 

 Although its foilage is fine, yet it is not adapted for 

 sowing on lawns, etc., on account of its small, tufted 

 habit of growth and the difficulty experienced in 

 cutting it with the scythe, like most of the common 

 fescues. Only 1 or 2 lbs. of seed should enter a mix- 

 ture of other seeds for permanent pasture. A bushel 

 of this weighs 11 lbs. I am cultivating this grass 

 this season, both separately and mixed with other 

 grasses. 



