58 THE GRASSES— RED FESCUE. 



develop its stolons. It can be cultivated with success 

 even on shallow soils if same are fairly good and not 

 too dry. In the mountains of Switzerland, where it has 

 but a thin layer of earth, it forms the principal part of 

 the vegetation. It flourishes on the dry sandy banks 

 of rivers, and will exist even on the sandy dunes by the 

 sea. As its roots extend themselves principally through 

 the upper spit of the soil, it is that section is exhausted 

 by it. In point of nutrition it is not up to meadow hay 

 of average quality. 



Mr. Maetin J. Sutton says this grass derives its 

 name from the reddish-brown colour of the lower leaves. 

 He is quite of opinion that Hard Fescue is infinitely 

 superior, except for poor, dry, harsh soils, and on uplands 

 where Eed Fescue may fairly be considered essential, 

 especially for its great power of withstanding drought. 

 This quality fits it for use on railway slopes, and for 

 all burning soils and hot climates. It must be regarded 

 as exclusively a pasture grass. All cattle like it, but 

 for hay it is of small utility, and the lattermath is 

 inconsiderable. 



Moeton's Uncyclopwdia says that it and its varieties, 

 like all creeping-rooted grasses, exhaust the fertility of 

 the soil and extirpate the more valuable fibrous-rooted 

 sorts — hence they should never be sown on ground 

 suited for the growth of Hard Fescue and its varieties. 



At Wdburn, grown on a light sandy soil, gave of 

 grass per acre — 



T. owts. qrs. lbs. 



At time of flowering . . . . 4 ii o 17 

 Yielding hay i 18 3 o 



At time of seed ripening the quantities of grass and 

 hay had increased to a small extent. 



