16 



PASTURE PLANTS AND PASTURES OF N.Z. 



Tall Fescue {Festuca elatior). — In leaf characters this 

 grass is merely a coarse and robust form of Meadow Fescue, 

 although the two grasses are very different in general 

 appearance. It grows most freely on swampy land where 

 it will form great clumps five feet in height. 



As a pasturegrass TaU Fescue is Uttle used. In swamps it 

 is now generally looked upon as a nuisance, though it has done 

 much good in carrying a certain quantity of stock until the 

 swampswere drained. Sown upon hills indistrictsof sufficient 

 rainfall it grows weU, and then assumes much the habit of 

 Meadow Fescue. Its extended use cannot be recommended. 

 Che wings Fescue {Festuca saburicola). — 

 Of all the species similar in growth to 

 Sheep's Fescue, Chewings is the only 

 one at all largely used here, and it will 

 be taken to serve as a type of the whole 

 group. It is a very small, low growing 

 grass, its leaves rarely exceeding 6 inches in 

 length, while they are often shorter, even 

 when fully grown. There is frequently a 

 shght red colouration at the base of the 

 sheath. The leaf is very narrow, and is rolled 

 towards the middle so that it becomes quite 

 hke a bristle or a pine needle. The ligule 

 is very small, and is often barely visible. 

 There are two rounded shoulder-like ears, 

 not enfolding the steiji, and these give one 

 of the best identification marks of the species 

 (v. fig. 9, p. 17). 

 Fig. 8.— Chewings Chewings Fescue is an absolutely 



A: Section of bristle- permanent grass that grows on every class 



like Made. ■^, ., tv r ux ^ j j • .l tt 



B: Base of leaf shew- of soil, even the lightest and driest. Here 

 ears. indeed, it appears to thrive better than on 



C : Flower head. , , . ., . . , i , , , . , 



(after Fream). "etter soils, sincc in the latter case it has 



