MEADOW FESCUE. 201 



establishes itself probably explains wliy it is not more 

 sown for hay. The great extent to which the seed is 

 adulterated by those of the more short lived rye grasses 

 probably furnishes one explanation why it is not more 

 sown for pasture. For either purpose it is almost in- 

 variably sown with other grasses. For meadow the best 

 single grass with which to grow it is timothy in the 

 North, since the two ripen nearly at the same time. If 

 clover is added, alsike is preferable to other varieties, 

 since it ripens later than the medium red and does not 

 smother the crop with which it grows to the same ex- 

 tent as rank mammoth clover does. These three should 

 furnish excellent crops of hay on suitable land, although 

 the author cannot cite any instances in which they have 

 been grown thus. Eussian brome grass, orchard grass 

 and tall oat grass would not be so suitable to grow along 

 with it for meadow; nor would medium red clover, 

 since all three mature considerably earlier. 



, The important mission of this grass in America 

 is in growing pasture in combination with other grass- 

 es and more especially in those pastures that are 

 abiding. In these it has much power to take care 

 of itself, though crowded when once it is established. 

 It will be found more valuable relatively in pastures in 

 the southern, central and far western states than in 

 those north, since for these it seems to have higher 

 adaptation than in those North, especially in areas with 

 Kansas and Idaho as centres. Along with tall oat 

 grass and orchard grass it furnishes good pasture not 

 temporary in character and the same is true of it in 

 certain areas of the South where it fits in particularly 

 well with orchard grass in providing such pastures, 



