HO A MANUAL OF FARM GRASSES 



are more widely used in lawn mixtures but in general 



they have no especial advantage over Rhode Island bent, 

 except that certain species give somewhat 

 better results in partly shaded areas. Va- 

 rious-leaved fescue .and fine-leaved fescue 

 are often sown in those parts of a lawn 

 that are less exposed to the sun, as under 

 the larger trees. 



The kinds of fescue grasses commonly 

 sold by seedsmen are as follows: 



Sheep's Fescue. Growing in erect 

 bunches, with a tuft of firm, slender, 

 rounded or needle-like leaves at base, the 

 flower-stems 6 to 12 inches high. Pan- 

 icle narrow, 2 to 4 inches long, spreading 

 in flower but contracted afterward, the 

 spikelets somewhat one-sided. Spikelets 

 about 1/4 inch long, 3 to 6-flowered, the 

 florets narrowed into a short bristle. The 

 botanical name is Festuca ovina JL. 



Slender Fescue. Differs from sheep's 

 fescue in having longer and more slender 

 threadlike, rather soft blades. Botani- 

 cally this and the next are usually consid- 

 ered as varieties of sheep's fescue, but by 

 some are considered to be distinct species. 

 22. Sheep's Festuva ovina capniata (Lam.) Hack.; 



Fescue. A 



flower head or festuca capillata Lam. 



panicle. Hard Fescue. Differs from sheep's 



fescue in having harsher, firmer and 



thicker blades. Those of sheep's fescue are about 1/24 



