ch. vm] Red Fescue 151 



The weed impurities to be looked for are Aira fiexuosa, Festuca- 

 Myurus, Bromus mollis, and Rumex acetosella (see Figs. 41, 72,. 

 99 and 153). From three to eight per cent, of chaff usually 

 remains even in well-dressed samples. The Purity should reach 

 90 to 95 per cent., and the pure seed give a Germination of 

 60 per cent, in seven days, and 80 to 90 per cent, in twenty-one days. 



Very frequently the seed of Chewing's variety of Red Fescue 

 is sold as Hard Fescue. The former is more easily produced and 

 is considerably cheaper, but it is doubtful whether the plant is so 

 hardy or permanent in Britain as genuine Hard Fescue. 



Festuca rubra, L. 

 For Botanical description see p. 102. 



Red Fescue and its varieties have a similar geographical 

 range to Sheep's Fescue, and are also of perennial growth. The 

 creeping variety (genuina, Hackel) forms loose tufts of herbage 

 with its creeping rhizomes. It withstands cold, drought, and 

 shade well, and thrives at high altitudes. It forms a good 

 "bottom" grass on soils of the poorer description, especially on 

 loose sands whether wet or dry. But it should never be sown for 

 any agricultural purpose on good fertile soils. It becomes fully 

 developed by the second year after sowing. Its creeping habit 

 gives it some value as a sand-binder on railway slopes, etc. For 

 lawns, golf-links, etc. on dry open soils it is an excellent con- 

 stituent of the turf, wearing well, and adding a rich green colour. 



Commercial Seed. 



Genuine seed of Creeping Red Fescue is very difficult to obtain 

 commercially. The kind almost always sold at the present day 

 under the name of Red Fescue is the variety known as Chewing's 

 New Zealand Fescue (see Fig. 108). This is the variety fallax, 

 Hack., which is without creeping rhizomes. Although Chewing's 

 variety is perennial, and has rich green foliage, it does not possess 

 the special value of the creeping variety for the purposes indi- 

 cated above. It is to be hoped that more attention will be given 

 in the future to the production of seed of the creeping variety. 

 The variety heterophylla is very similar in habit of growth, etc. 

 to Chewing's Fescue and neither of them is of much agricul- 

 tural value in Britain. 



