HARD FESCUE. 53 



CHAPTER XIV. 



HARD FESCILE GRASS.' 



Festuca Duriuscula Specific Character. 



Taller than tlie sheep's fescue, with spikelets 

 rather larger usually in a more compound panicle ; 

 ulm leaves often flat or less convulate, and the 

 lower with their sheaths either smooth or hairy. 

 New England and Virginia, natural and indigenous ; 

 Northward, Gray. Flowers in June and ripens seeds 



in July. 



WAY'S ANALYSIS. 

 100 parts as taken green from the field June 13th. 



Water G9.33 



Albuminous or flesh forming principles 3.70 



Tatty matters. .. 1.02 



Heat producing manciples, starch, sugar, gum, etc.. .. 12.40 



Woody Fibre....? 11.83 



Mineral matter or Ash .. 1.66 



100.00 

 100 parts of the grass dried at 212 Fahr. 



Albuminous or flesh forming principles 12.10 



Fatty matters 3.31 



Heat producing principles, starch, sugar, gum, etc... 40.43 



Woody Fibre 38.71 



Mineral matter or Ash 5.42 



100.00 



The hard fescue may be classed amongst the best 

 native grasses for general purposes ; it will thrive on 

 a great variety of soils, and produce a greater weight 

 of fodder than might be expected from its dwarf 

 habit of growth compared with some of the others ; 

 and is found to resist the effects of severe drought in 



