24 



Fall Meadow Fescue, Festuca elatior. 



2. Panicle. 3. Upper leaf. 4. Spikelet. 



5. M'mpty glumes. 6. Flowering glume. 



den, Germany, France and as far South as Italy. It grows all over the 



United States. It was first 

 domesticated in 1820. It is 

 inclined to grow in tufts or 

 bunches' like orchard grass. 

 The roots are stout and the 

 leaves are from one to two 

 feet long. This grass often 

 grows to the height of five 

 feet in suitable situations and 

 soils and makes excellent win- 

 ter pastures from Virginia and 

 Kentucky southward. It 

 grows vigorously on the 

 mountain lands of upper East 

 Tennessee and is ' highly 

 prized for its good grazing 

 qualities during the spring, 

 summer and fall months, even 

 extending far into winter, not- 

 withstanding the rigor of the 

 weather upon these chilly 

 heights. It has taken various 

 names; in Virginia it is "Randall grass;" in North Carolina "evergreen 

 grass." In the mountain lands of Virginia, a writer says: "The variety 

 of forage best adapted to sheep-grazing on the mountain lands is the 

 'Randall.' a tall, coarse grass, growing freely on the rocky soil to a 

 height of six feet, remaining green and affording fine herbage all the 

 winter." 



From the limited cultivation this grass has received in Tennessee it 

 seems to be adapted rather to moist low lands than to uplands, though 

 I have seen it growing on some of the high ridges of East Tennessee, at 

 least 1,500 feet above the sea. There, on good soils, it thrives luxuriantly, 

 and makes a very superior pasture. Some of this grass was sown in 

 Davidson county as early as 1850 upon the farm once owned by Col. D. 

 H. McGavock. The place selected for sowing was low, wet and almost 

 marshy. The same spot is yet green with it, still flourishing in the great- 

 est vigor, furnishing more grazing according to Col. McGavock, than any 

 other grass. The roots penetrate much deeper than the roots of blue- 

 grass, descending indeed, as deep as red clover. In consequence of this 

 it bears droughts remarkably well. Nor do overflows affect it, but seem 

 rather to add to its vigorous vitality. 



A small plat of upland was also sov/n, but it disappeared in about five 

 years. Its disappearance, however, was hastened by the presence of the 

 army worm. 



In Europe this grass is one of the standard meadow grasses and 

 might be found by further experiment to form a fine addition to the list 

 here. Its name of evergreen originated from its habit of remaining green 



