544 COMMON GRASSES OF THE FARM 



Meadow fescue produces its full yield only after three years 

 growth from the seed and is therefore most suited for the longer 

 leys and permanent pasture. 



Tall Fescue {Festuca elatior L.) resembles the last species but 

 is more tufted in habit and its leaves, stems, and other parts are 

 larger and of coarser texture. It is met with on river banks and 

 in wet places generally, where it frequently grows to a height of 

 4 or 5 feet. Although it is eaten by all kinds of stock its coarse- 

 ness unfits it for use in leys and permanent pasture. Possibly 

 meadow fescue is merely a subspecies of this plant. 



Festuca arundinacea Schreb., which grows near 

 the sea coast in many parts of the country, is a 

 large form of tall fescue with rough leaf-sheaths. 



Sheep's Fescue {Festuca ovina L.). — A small 

 perennial grass, usually not more than a few inches 

 high and growing in tufts, with narrow, almost 

 solid, bristle-like leaves and smooth leaf-sheaths. 

 It grows well on dry soils, and is one of the chief 

 constituents of upland sheep pastures. 



Hard Fescue {Festuca duriuscula L.) resembles 

 the last species, but has narrow, flat leaves, 

 dqwny leaf-sheaths, a more open panicle, and 

 does not grow in such dense tufts. It is also 

 of larger growth than sheep's fescue. 



Both these grasses are constituents of the 

 best sheep pastures on the higher ground of 

 this country, and are almost unaffected by the 

 Fig. 183.— c, Pan- driest Weather. Their produce is small but 



icle of Sheep's Fes- . . , i , , 



cue (natural size), nutntious and morc succulent than the general 

 blade and piecrof appearance of the leaves indicates. Hard fescue 

 ^Xpiece of leaf may be used with advantage, in moderate amount, 



showing its cross- c u ..l j * n • . r 



section and manner as a bottom grass in all mixtures for perma- 

 of fo ding. j^gj^j. pa^styyg jf, (jj.y situations. 



Red Fescue {Festuca rubra L.) is a perennial grass very nearly 



