314 GRASSES AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



Though too small to grow as hay, it has been fotmd 

 quite useful under some conditions in providing pas- 

 ture for sheep and cattle, both of which are very fond 

 of it. It is also highly nutritious. In America, it 

 has not been much introduced into cultivation; but it 

 may be advisable to sow it under some conditions. 



Distribution. — This grass is probably native to Eu- 

 rope, Asia and North America. It has rendered much 

 service in providing grazing on the arid plains of Asia. 

 It will grow in many sections of the United States and 

 Canada, and, where the conditions are hard, may fre- 

 quently be made to render considerable service in fur- 

 nishing pasture. It has special adaptation to Rocky 

 mountain areas. Being extremely hardy, it is on the 

 whole better adapted to northern than to southern 

 qottditions. Its chief value lies in furnishing pas- 

 ture on dry soils where better grasses refuse to grow. 

 It has much power to grow on dry, sandy or gravelly 

 soils, on clay hills and on rocky mountain slopes with 

 but a thin covering of earth. 



Place in the Rotation. — Sheep's Fescue is not a ro- 

 tation crop, since it is not commonly sown on prepared 

 land; but of course it may be grown in rotations in 

 pastures of more or less permanency. 



Preparing the Soil. — This grass is indigenous to 

 many sections. In these the question of soil prepara- 

 tion and of sowing is not greatly important. In such 

 areas, the grass usually grows, as it were, spontane- 

 ously, and if not kept grazed too closely will scatter 

 the seeds so as to thicken the grazing. Scattering seed 

 on unbroken land, which is not covered with a close 



