F. ELATIOR, L. TALL MEADOW FESCUE. 127 



slender top of chess, with which every farmer is familiar. It 

 flowers about a week or ten days before Timothy. 



This valuable grass, with several kindred species and varieties, 

 is found throughout Europe, western Asia, and has been intro- 

 duced into North America. 



Tall fescue has long been in high favor with the best farmers 

 of Great Britain, as it is well liked by all domestic herbivorous 

 animals. 



Mr. Gorrie, a competent British authority, speaks of it as the 

 most important species of the fescues, highly valuable for per- 

 manent grass lands, both for spring and autumn, but not the 

 hest suited for alternate husbandry, as it does not attain to full 

 productive powers till the third year from sowing. It is very 

 nutritious, making excellent hay as well as pasture. 



This grass is seldom sown in a pure state, but is frequently 

 met with, in the northern States especially, where the soil is 

 heavy and inclined to be moist. It seeds freely, and the seeds 

 germinate quickly and make strong young plants. If used alone, 

 sow two bushels to the acre. 



For the South, Dr. Phares considers it one of the best winter 

 grasses, and says it is much prized as far north as Virginia, where 

 it furnishes cattle good grazing in mid-winter. To the writer 

 this seems to be one of the most promising grasses for the dry 

 prairie lands of the west. 



Festuca pratensis, Huds. Meadow Fescue, Randall Grass. 

 By many botanists this is considered a mere variety of the former 

 species, or the former grass a mere variety of this one ; some 

 choosing one name, some the other. The one now under consid- 

 eration much resembles the tall fescue. It is a little earlier, 

 considerable smaller, with shorter, thinner leaves, less inclined to 

 grow in tufts, top narrower and simpler. The reader should 

 consult the remarks on Festuca elatior, which mostly apply to 

 this one also. Most of the seeds sold for tall meadow fescue are 



