OTHEE GRASSES OF SECONDARY IMPORTANCE 205 



226. Characteristics. Meadow fescue is a tufted, 

 deep-rooted, long-lived perennial. It produces an abun- 

 dance of dark green leaves on sterile shoots, and 

 comparatively few 



culms or fertile 

 shoots. The ster- 

 ile shoots are 

 about 4 times as 

 numerous as the 

 fertile ones. The 

 culms are not very 

 leafy, and grow 

 commonly to a 

 height of 18 to 24 

 inches or rarely 

 3 feet. Although 

 the grass possesses 

 no rootstocks it is 

 not bunchy, but 

 makes a fairly 

 good sod. If cut 

 either for hay or 

 for seed, it pro- 

 duces a good 

 amount of after- 

 math. If cut 

 early, the second 



n j FIG. 21. Meadow fescue (Festuca elatior). 



crop will produce a spikelet . 



culms, but other- 

 wise mostly leaves. It withstands pasturing very well. 



Old fields of meadow fescue are plowed without diffi- 

 culty, and the grass is as readily destroyed as timothy. 



227. Adaptations. Meadow fescue is adapted to 



