110 



Pbstuoa pratbnsis. Meadow Fescue Grass. Plate XCII. 



Panicle simple, nearly erect, more or less spreading or compact. 

 Spikelets oval-lanceolate, compressed, many-flowered. Lower palea 

 five-veined, the middle vein terminating below the apex in a very short 

 or obsolete awn. Leaves linear-lanceolate. 



Festuca pratensis, Hudson. E. B. 1592 ; ed. 2. 148. Most modern 

 botanists. Bucetum pratense, Parnell. Schedonorus pratensis, 

 Beauvois. Lindley. 



A very common grass in moist meadows and pastures throughout 

 the kingdom, and extending naturally over Europe and northern Asia, 

 except within the limit of perpetual frost in the latter. Stems one or 

 two feet high, erect, round, smooth, striated. Leaves linear-lanceolate, 

 acute, flat, roughish on the inner or upper face. Panicle branches 

 simple, sometimes bearing only a single stalked spikelet. Spikelets 

 ovate-lanceolate or oblong, bearing five or six, or a greater number, of 

 fertile flowers. Outer palea frequently bifid at the extremity, which 

 is membranaceous ; the veins not extending into the cleft portion, 

 .though the central one of the five occasionally protrudes at the base of 

 the latter as a very short rough awn. 



Perennial. Flowers towards the end of June. 



The valuable properties of this grass for agricultural purposes 

 have been long recognised. It was one of the six {Anihoxanthum 

 odoratum, Alopecurus pratensis, Poa pratensis, Poatrivialis, Cynosurus 

 cristatus, and Festuca pratensis) that were especially recommended by 

 Curtis, beyond all others, for laying down meadows and pastures on 

 moist or moderately dry soils ; and though modern practice and experi- 

 ence might lead to a partial alteration in the list, the species before us 

 would still hold its place. The Woburn experiments were greatly in 

 its favour, and the observations of most of our best agriculturists con- 

 firm their results. Mr. Sinclair, after calling attention to the fact that 

 the Meadow Fescue Grass is one of those that contribute most abun- 

 dantly to the herbage of all rich natural pastures and irrigated meadows, 

 state that "it makes excellent hay, and, though a large plant, the 

 leaves are succulent and tender, and apparently much liked by cattle, 

 as they never form rank tufts, which is the case with most of the larger 

 grasses. It does not appear to arrive at its fuU productive powers 

 from seed so soon as either the Cocks-foot or Fox-tail grass ; and, 

 though essential for permanent pasture, is not by itself very well 

 adapted for alternate husbandry, but shoidd be combined with Cocks- 

 foot, Rye-grass, and Rough-stalked Meadow-grass. It is of greater 

 value at the time of flowering than when the seeds are ripe, in the pro- 

 portion of three to one. In the deep alluvial soils of Lincolnshire, this 

 grass is not so prevalent as in the clay districts. In the Vale of 

 Aylesbury it constitutes a considerable portion of the most valuable 

 and fattening pastures of that rich grazing district." Another writer, 

 Mr. Salisbury, remarks that " if land intended for meadow could be 



