26 



be made good sheep walks if set with it. Sheep are very fond of it and 

 hence its name. 



Its panicles are narrow; its leaves are short, bristle-like and tufted 

 and have a grayish color tinged with red. It forms a profuse foliage in 

 bunches and makes excellent pastures for sheep and cattle where other 

 grasses will not grow. 



This grass constitutes the great bulk of the grazing grasses in the 

 sheep pastures of the Highlands of Scotland. It is believed by the shep- 

 herds in that region to be more nutritious for sheep than any other. In 

 the arid plains of Asia it is often the only grass upon which the wandering 

 tribes can subsist their cattle and sheep. 



Linnaeus asserts that sheep have no fondness for hills without it. 

 Where all other vegetation parches up it will grow. Its short and dense 

 turf when sown thick makes it well suited for lawns. The aftermath in a 

 lawn cannot be surpassed. 



Many varieties of this grass are found in the Rocky Mountain dis- 

 tricts. Some of these grow to the height of two or three feet. The usual 



Rats 's-tail Fescue Festuca myurus. 



2. Inflorescence. 3. Upper leaf. J.Spikelet. 



5. Empty glumes, tj. Flowering glume. 



Small Fescue Festuca tenella. 



1. Panicle. 2. Spikelet. 3. Empty 



glumes. 4. Flowering glume. 



height of this grass on thin soils rarely exceeds eight inches. The weight 

 of a bushel of seed is 14 pounds. Two or three bushels to the acre is not 

 too much to secure a sufficient density of turf for lawns or pastures. The 

 seed sells for about $2.00 per bushel. 



OTHER FESCUE GRASSES. 



Tennessee fescue, Festuca rubra glaucescens, is a perennial and is 

 strongly recommended for worn out soils and hill-sides. It has a creep- 

 ing habit and makes a good turf, close and fine leaved, remaining green 



