THE SELECTION OF GRASSES AND CLOVERS. 45 



grasses are perfect!}' distinct. The herbage of tlie former is very 

 much larger, and tlie habit of growth entirely different. 



FestTica heterophylla {Various-leaved Fescue) was intro- 

 duced into England in 1814. It comes into flower rather earlier 

 than Festuca ovina, and ripens its seed about the middle of July. 

 Sinclair calls it Festuca ovina hordeiformis, or Long-awned Sheep's 

 Fescue, and he was of opinion that at least one half of the 

 nutritive value of the grass was lost when allowed to rij)en seed. 

 The foliage is darker and more glossy than that produced by 

 other Fescues. It is extensively grown in France, and, although 

 it is a southern plant, I am satisfied that in this country, espe- 

 cially in all the warmer districts, it might with advantage be 

 sown with greater freedom than is usual on strong well-drained 

 soils, where Festuca ovina and even Festuca duriuscida are liable 

 to be overpowered by Cocksfoot. Various-leaved Fescue show^s 

 a decided partiality for calcareous land, succeeds in marshes, 

 and grows better under the shade of trees than in the open. It 

 is a most valuable Fescue, and indeed one of the best of the finer 

 grasses. The early growth makes it exceedingly usefid in a 

 pasture, but for hay it is comparatively unimportant, and the 

 aftermath is small. 



This Fescue will not alone make a homogeneous turf, as the 

 plants form tufts which will not amalgamate, but in company 

 with Festuca rubra and Poa pratensis it will fully occupy the soil. 



To ensure true seed the crop has to be grown alone, because 

 the heads when ripe resemble o'Jier Fescues so closely that it 

 is difficult for the collectors who pick it by hand to gather a 

 perfectly true sample. 



The botanical description and chemical analysis are given 

 on page 146, facing an illustration. 



Festuca ovina {Sheep's Fescue). — Under the name of Fes- 

 tuca ovina all the smaller Fescues are sometimes grouped, and 

 much confusion has resulted from it. A writci' will speak veiy 



