178 FARM GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES 



tered, it would probably become a standard in that 

 sedtion. 



Tall fescue differs very little from meadow-fescue, 

 except in being more robust in habit. It grows four 

 to six inches taller, and it appears to be somewhat 

 more difficult to get started. This may be due to 

 poorer quality of the seed ordinarily secured from deal- 

 ers. Tall fescue seed is very seldom called for, and is 

 about three times as high-priced as meadow- fescue 

 seed. It also weighs only about 14 Ibs. per bushel, 

 while meadow-fescue seed weighs 22 Ibs. The differ- 

 ence is due mainly to a greater amount of chaff left 

 in tall fescue seed, thus masking, to some extent, its 

 higher price. 



American farmers have not had experience enough 

 with these two grasses to determine the proper amount 

 of seed to sow per acre. Both grasses are perennials, 

 and outlast timothy, both in meadows and in pas- 

 tures. 



While it has not been demonstrated, it is probable 

 that mixtures of such grasses as the fescues, rye- 

 grasses, orchard-grass, timothy, red top, and red, 

 white, and alsike clovers, would make pastures far 

 surpassing blue-grass on all soils in the timothy region, 

 except in a few areas already referred to as special 

 blue-grass regions. Mixtures such as the above are 

 generally used for pastures as well as meadows across 

 the Atlantic, and European farmers find pastures 

 profitable, even on high-priced land. Perhaps Amer- 

 ican farmers would not be abandoning pastures as 

 they are if they did not rely so entirely on blue-grass 

 and white clover. 



