PASTURES AND PASTURE PLANTS 



CHAP. 



The fungus is supposed to abound chiefly in damp situations, so that good 

 drainage is probably beneficial. When the flower-spikes of grasses are 

 ergotised, they should be cut with a sharp scythe, the resulting produce being 

 raked together and burned to prevent abortion being caused by stock con- 

 suming it. Mr. Worthington Smith says : " In districts notoriously subject to 

 Ergot the scythe may be used in a similar manner at the flowering time of 

 grasses, for as the spores of Claviceps attack the young flowers, it is obvious 

 that the Ergots will be many or few according to the number of grass flowers." 

 Meadow Fescue-Grass {Festuca pratensis). — Perennial, forming com- 

 pact tufts ; flowering at the end of June ; and ripening seed during August. 



One of the best grasses for 

 grazing or mowing, Meadow 

 fescue constitutes a great pro- 

 portion of the herbage of our 

 most valuable natural pas- 

 tures; commences to grow 

 very early in spring ; yields 

 three productive cuttings of 

 nutritious and grateful fodder 

 annually in favourable soils and 

 seasons ; is uninjured by winter 

 cold in suitable situations ; 

 resists moderate drought ; 

 grows well on all soils rich in 

 humus ; luxuriates in rich, 

 moist lands in humid climates ; 

 and thrives under irrigation. 

 The plant endures grazing 

 very well ; gives a moderate 

 yield the first season, its maxi- 

 mum produce being attained 

 in the second and third years ; 

 and becomes stunted on poor, 

 dry or shallow soils. Sinclair 

 obtained 13,612. lbs. green 

 fodder, or 6,466 lbs. hay, from 

 an acre of fertile peat ; and 

 the following yields of hay per 

 acre have been recorded : — 

 Vianne, 6,030 lbs. the first, 

 and 10,340 lbs. the second, 

 year from a loamy soil ; Pink- 

 ert, 4,930 lbs. at two cuttings 

 from stiff sandy loam ; and 

 Sprengel, an average of 4,400 lbs. Sinclair says that in point of early produce 

 in the spring, this grass stands next to Meadow foxtail, and is superior to 

 Cocksfoot ; and he adds that : " It makes excellent hay, and though a large 

 plant, the leaves or herbage are succulent and tender, and apparently much 

 liked by cattle, as they never form rank tufts, which is the case with the larger 

 grasses." Seed is easily harvested, and should be saved from the first cutting. 

 Commercial qualities often contain 50 per cent, of Perennial rye-grass, the 

 adulteration being very difficult to detect without long practice. The grass 

 should be cut before the flowering period, as it soon afterwards becomes 





Meadow Fescue-Grass, 

 {_Festiica pratensis.') 



