THE GRASSES— HARD FESCUE. 51 



each variety ■will have some seeds larger or smaller 

 than the normal size, and so a process of sifting will 

 easily equalise the sizes all round. 



How unsatisfactory this is from the farmer's point 

 of view will appear when we discover that each of the 

 various kinds which are liable to be sold as Sheep's 

 Fescue requires a special soil and situation in order 

 to attain its maximum development. 



Some of the kinds, for instance, are only suited for 

 dry soils, while others are served by irrigation. Some 

 creep at the root and exhaust the surface soil, while 

 others are fibrous-rooted and go deep. Some do .best 

 under shade, while others prefer the open. It would 

 clearly, therefore, be of great advantage to get the kind 

 that suits the circumstances of our land ; but the seed 

 is little or no guide, and the farmer has no remedy 

 except to deal with seedsmen of skill, experience, and 

 integrity. 



Hard Fescue. 



(Festuca duriuscula.) 

 Seed weighs 20 lbs. per bushel. 



Standard of germination, of H.M.'s Office of Works, 

 75 per cent. Some seedsmen guarantee from 10 to 15 

 per cent, higher than this. 



Dr. Steblek's opinion is, that the variety known as 

 Hard Fescue is only distinguishable from the other 

 Sheep's Fescues by its somewhat more robust growth. 

 For good land, or even for poor land that can be 

 irrigated, grasses of more value can be found ; and it 

 is only on dry and thin soils, where the better grasses 



