CH. VIII] 



Meadow Fescue 



149 



It forms fairly compact tufts and produces rather more "bottom" 

 than "top" growth. On good soils a large yield of nutritious 

 produce is obtained. For permanent grass on all moist fertile 

 soils it should be included in the mixture, as well as for leys of 

 three or more years' duration. It is suitable for irrigation and 

 water-meadows. As the stems harden and lose much of their 

 nutritive value soon after flowering it should be cut previous to 

 this stage. Under favourable conditions a considerable after- 

 math is rapidly produced. 



Commercial Seed. 



Meadow Fescue seed is imported principally from North 

 America and Denmark. 



Fig. 166. Seed of 

 Plantago lanceo- 

 lata, L. Rib-grass. 



Fig. 167. Seeds of P. 

 aristata, MX. Brac- 

 teate Plantain. 



Each x 10. 



Fig. 168. Seeds of 

 P. Eugelii, Dene. 

 Pale Plantain. 



Commercial samples were formerly often adulterated with 

 seeds of Perennial Eye-grass, but this seldom happens now. The 

 most common weed seed impurities are Eromus arvensis, B. seca- 

 linus, Plantago aristata, MX., and Polygonum Persicaria, L. These 

 seeds are harvested with those of Meadow Fescue and it is difficult 

 to completely remove them. In well cleaned bulks only small 

 amounts of these weeds will be found and the total impurities 

 including broken seeds and stems should not exceed two per cent. 

 Good seed gives a Germination of about 80 per cent, in four days 

 and 90 to 95 per cent, in twelve days. New seed with a germina- 

 tion capacity of nearly 100 per cent, is frequently met with. 



