(77) 



pasture not an inch of surface is unoccupied. It may be 

 thought an inch or two here and there makes but little dif- 

 ference in the space occupied. But every blade of grass is 

 of some importance, and it is astonishing the aggregate of 

 these barren places. 



Now, once more, let it be urged on the farmers of Ten- 

 nessee to look into this matter of pastures, and provide 

 themselves with this highly important adjunct to every farm. 

 No home is complete without pastures, and yet there are 

 many who will depend either upon the fortuitous wild 

 grasses for grazing, or feed their stock from the crib all 

 through the year. With a rich blue grass lot, no stock 

 need be fed, except while at work, and, indeed, it is some- 

 times the case that in dry, scarce years, crops have been 

 made with horses and mules that had no other provender 

 than a blue grass lot. 



- 



SHEEP'S FESCUE (Festuca ovina Perennial.) 



The fescue grasses are very popular in New England, and 

 grow well in Tennessee, having been introduced in some lo- 

 calities. They are perennial, and grow in tufts, and from 

 their profuse foliage they form excellent pasturage for cattle, 

 and especially for sheep, hence the name of one variety. 

 Mixed with other grasses the sheep's fescue would be a 

 good addition to our native grasses. It would be especially 

 useful on dry hill- sides, or sandy, old fields, where blue 

 grass will not thrive well. It has long leaves, and they are 

 much sought for by cattle. It has been grown extensively 

 in East Tennessee, and is grown in some localities in David- 

 son county, without much success. The Hon. Staunton Gould 

 says this grass forms the great bulk of the sheep pastures of 

 of the Highlands of Scotland, where it is the favorite food 



