y. ELATIOR, TALL MEADOW FESCUE. 131 



lands ami clays, and having many fibrous roots running down 

 eight to fifteen inches, resists the droughts." 



For Kansas, read what Professor Shelton writes: '^' After 

 experimenting for twelve years, I have often wondered that 

 the cultivation of this grass has not been more widely extended. 

 It gives a good amount of early and late feed of good quality, 

 and yields heavily, of good hay. It endures dry weather, in 

 strong lands, without injury. Peoj)le east and west can afl:ord 

 to give this Festuca a trial. Sow two to two and a half bushels 

 •of seed to the acre." 



Professors Latta and Troop, of Indiana, say that " Meadow 

 Fescue and Taller Fescue do remarkably well at Lafayette, and 

 we look upon them as the coming grasses of this section. The 

 first seems to give better satisfaction as hay, while the second 

 furnishes more pasture after cutting. Its leaves are too rough 

 and harsh for hay." 



As before said the various samples of this grass already vary 

 much in size and vigor, and this shows what might be done with 

 a little time and care in selecting certain types and in raising 

 each by itself. Like Indian corn, they seem ready to break up 

 into permanent varieties. Prof. James Buckman, of England, 

 tried, side by side, the two fescues above named, and another 

 called Festuca loliacea, and found all intermediate stages passing 

 from one into either of the others, but under certain circum- 

 stances each maintained its distinct characters. 



Festuca elatior var. arundinacea. Tall Meadow Fescue. — 



Leaves longer, broader, firmer, culm stouter and taller, panicle 

 more erect, roots larger and stouter than F. elatior. 



For seven years the writer has had three separate forms or 

 races of the larger fescues, each of which came from seeds of 

 distinct selected plants. The mixed seed at first was received 



Fig. 66.— FestMca elatior var. arundinacea; part of plant; a outer glumes; b, floral 

 glume; c, section of floral glum and palea ; d, a cross-section of same.— (Sudworth). 



