52 THE GRASSES-HARD FESCUE. 



will not do well, that the Sheep's Fescues become of 

 much importance to agriculture. On good soils it is 

 useful as a bottom-grass in mixture with other grasses, 

 and may be mixed with the clovers for soiling; but 

 by itself, or in large proportion, it can only be used to 

 advantage on land that is dry, poor, and thin, of a 

 sandy or silicious nature. On such it is truly a god- 

 send, as it supports extreme drought, and is absolutely 

 insensible to temperature and to climatic influences. 

 It should never be sown alone even in the worst land, 

 as it grows in thick close tufts and does not cover the 

 ground. To fill up the blank spaces it is necessary 

 to mix it with other grasses or forage plants. With 

 Anthyllis vulneraria, for instance, on soils of the poorer 

 class — and with White Clover, Smooth Meadow grass, 

 or perhaps Timothy, on soils of a somewhat better kind. 

 The year it is sown it develops slowly and gives but 

 a poor yield. It is the second or third year that it 

 reaches its maximum, after which it begins to decline. 

 Cattle will not eat it except under pressure of extreme 

 hunger. Sheep like it well enough, but not so well 

 as they like some other grasses. 



Sinclair remarks that it withstands the effects of 

 severe dry weather better than many other grasses, and 

 recommends its use to a small extent in laying down 

 new pastures. He adds that it attains greatest perfec- 

 tion when combined with Meadow Fescue and Eough- 

 stalked Meadow grass. 



Dr. Vasey, of U.S.A. Agricultural Department, says it 

 is indigenous in the mountainous parts of New England, 

 in the Eocky Mountains, and in various Northern 

 localities. It is without doubt the very best of the 

 grasses growing on sandy soils. It is only as a pasture 



