AGRICULTURAL GRASSES 41 



this ground, because, being a late-flowering species, the hay is 

 almost always cut before the danger becomes imminent. One 

 other point deserves mention here. Where hay is cut in the 

 first or second week of June, this grass will not be at its best, 

 and therefore seed should be sown more sparingly than where 

 the hay harvest occurs about midsummer. 



The introduction of Meadow Fescue into America fur- 

 nishes another example of an alteration in character which 

 such a change sometimes brings about. The time of flowering 

 is much earlier there, the plant thrives at a higher altitude, 

 and often grows four feet high, instead of about two feet high 

 as in England. In East Tennessee this grass flourishes and 

 makes superior hay at 1,500 feet above the sea level. The 

 verdant growth during winter in North Carolina has secured 

 for it the local designation of ' Evergreen Grass,' and in Virginia 

 it is known as ' Randall Grass.' 



In habit. Meadow Fescue resembles true Perennial Rye 

 Grass, but the herbage of the former is more leafy, and the 

 seed-culms fewer. On light thin soils, and at altitudes where 

 Festuca pratensis is unsuitable, an additional quantity of true 

 Perennial Rye Grass, combined with Festuca duriuscula and 

 Festuca ovina teniilfolia, may well take its place. 



Although Meadow Fescue occasionally grows rather rank, 

 the herbage is always tender and succulent, and the quality of 

 the hay first-rate. With cattle the plant is ever a favourite, 

 and, if possible, is even more relished than FoxtaU. These two 

 grasses flourish under the same conditions, except that the 

 Fescue scarcely stands heat so well as FoxtaU. For practical 

 purposes I am inclined to regard Festuca pratensis as the 

 better grass, especially as the germination of the seed is more 

 rehable, and experiments have shown its decided superiority 

 in bulk. Up to the time of ripening seed an acre produced 

 209 pounds more nutritive matter than did an acre of Foxtail 

 in the whole year. The early growth of Meadow Fescue is 

 not large by comparison, but before the end of June it leaves 



