THE GRASSES— TALL MEADOW FESCUE. 59 



THE MEADOW FESCUES. 



The Grerman botanist, Haeckel, whose ruling in the 

 matter is also adopted by Dr. Stebler, places Festuca 

 pratensis and F. arwndinacea as sub-species of F. elatior, 

 and divides those again into varieties and sub-varieties. 

 States further that F. loliacea (Darnel or Slender 

 Fescue grass) is a hybrid between F. pratensis and 

 Perennial Eyegrass, and adds that there are also in 

 existence hybrids between Meadow Fescue, Italian 

 Eyegrass and F. gigantea (Giant "Wood Brome, or 

 Fescue grass). Dr. Parnell also thinks it is very pro- 

 bable that F. pratensis is only a variety of F. elatior. 



Tall Meadow Fescue. 



(Festuca elatior.) 

 Seed weighing 20 lbs. per bushel. 



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

 75 per cent. 



Mauee, a German botanist, so 'far back as 18 18 

 wrote that this was one of the best and most useful of 

 grasses. 



Dr. Paenell describes it as growing from three to 

 five feet high, the root being perennial, fibrous, some- 

 what creeping, and forming large tufts. It is a nutritive 

 and very productive grass, grows naturally in rich, 

 moist soils of a clayey nature, and, notwithstanding its 

 coarse appearance, cattle appear fond of it, especially 

 cows. 



