THE GRASSES— MEADOW FESCUE. 63 



is surpassed by few as a hay grass when cut at the time 

 of flowering. 



The Agrostographia of Lawson pronounces it to be 

 an excellent grass, either for alternate husbandry or 

 permanent pasture (particularly the latter), combining 

 as it does most of the properties without the defects of 

 Common Eyegrass. 



Mr. HuNTEE reminds us that this is one of the six 

 grasses recommended by Curtis for laying down moist 

 or moderately dry soUs to permanent pasture, and adds 

 that no grass has a stronger claim to that position, and 

 that it should be a large constituent of all mixtures of 

 seeds for permanent pastures. Although it loses much 

 of its nutritive value if not cut at the time of flowering, 

 yet, as the seed is not ripe till about the first of August, 

 the sowing of this valuable grass along with Eyegrass, 

 Cocksfoot, &c., for hay crops or alternate husbandry 

 need not be restricted, as the seeds of these grasses 

 ripen two or three weeks earlier than those of the 

 Meadow Fescue, so that such crops would be ready for 

 mowing at the time the Meadow Fescue was in flower, 

 and in its most nutritious state. 



Mr. Maetin J. Sutton's opinion is, that Meadow 

 Fescue may properly be regarded as one of the most 

 valuable, perhaps the Tnost valuable, grass that can 

 be sown. Its presence is a pretty certain indication 

 of good land. It flourishes in strong deep land, espe- 

 cially in low-lying meadows and valleys where a moist 

 atmosphere prevails. Scarcely any grass equals this 

 for land under irrigation, though entirely unsuited 

 to a water-logged soil As it requires three years to 

 attain maturity, Mr. Sutton looks upon it as a land- 

 lord's grass, to be used principally for permanent 



