53 



It remains both, as regards yield and nutritive value, below average 

 and is therefore from an agricultural point of view a grass of 

 secondary importance only, which may profitably be used in pasture- 

 mixtures destined for light warm soils, especially there where the 

 better, heavy soil requiring under-grasses either would not thrive 

 or stand a poor chance only. 



It is on the other hand a very good grass for lawns, for which 

 its fine, brush-like bottom-leaves make it exceedingly fit. For that 

 purpose it is even superior to the Festuca duriuscula 

 (Hard Fescue), but comes as a rule a good deal dearer than that 

 variety. 



Festuca ovina {Sheep's Fescue). A 20 to 25 inches high grow- 

 ing, even tuft-forming grass with both very few small bottom- 

 and stalk-foliage. It grows on both middling and light sandy soils, 

 though the latter are its places "par excellence". It is middle- 

 timed as far as maturity is concerned, and is both in regard to 

 yield and nutritive value, a secondary grass only. As the name 

 indicates, it is the grass for sheep-pastures, that is to say, on 

 light sandy soils there, where the better, more valuable grasses 

 have either little or no chance to thrive. The reason why it is 

 both named and considered the "Sheep's" grass is based on the 

 fact, that in such regions as are either for lightness of soil or 

 lack of sufficient rainfall, or for both, not so well adapted for 

 permanent pasture and unsuitable for cattle to graze on, this 

 grass will do very well indeed when sown in connection with 

 Anthyllis Vulneraria {Kidney Vetch), to send • sheep 

 on which, as is generally known, can feed sufficiently and fatten 

 even there, where cattle would almost be starving. 



It should be borne in mind, that more than any other short- 

 growing grass. Sheep's Fescue tends to go hard and strawy 

 very soon and that, if a field of Sheep's Fescue alone, or 

 of Sheep's Fescue and Kidney Vetch combined, were 

 destined for hay-making, it should be mown either before or at 

 least not later than when the plants are in bloom. 



A certain percentage of Sheep's Fescue is very often being 

 put also in mixtures for permanent pasture on good heavy soil. 

 There is, however, very little sense in doing so, as there are 

 several other more valuable and heavier yielding varieties that 

 can be used to far greater advantage on such soil. We ascribe the 

 use of it in such mixtures more to the desire of the composer 



