AGRICULTURAL GRASSES 47 



Hard Fescue forms one of the principal constituents of 

 the sheep pastures of this country. On all suitable soUs it is 

 of importance in forming a close bottom to the turf among 

 stronger-growing varieties, and in this respect is of especial 

 service for upland pastures. Sinclair found Hard Fescue to 

 thrive best in company with Festuca pratensis and Poa trivialis. 

 His experience is confirmed by my own, and I also find that 

 when sown with Fine-leaved Sheep's Fescue a close and 

 nutritious crop is produced for sheep on down land. 



Early in spring Hard Fescue starts into gi'owth, flowering 

 at or a little before midsummer, and yields an abundant latter- 

 math. On moist and rich soils it affords an immense amount 

 of herbage, which sometimes grows higher than the seed-stems, 

 and the plant will endure drought when the land is in good 

 condition. As the nutritive value is much diminished by 

 the formation of seed, the crop should be cut in time to prevent 

 deterioration. In hay the presence of this grass is generally 

 indicative of superior quality, and mountain graziers insist that 

 Hard Fescue contains more ' proof ' than many varieties that 

 receive a higher character from the chemist. 



Festuca duHuscula is more robust in growth than F. ovina 

 tenuifolia, and occupies a position among the smaller Fescues 

 similar to that filled by F. pratensis among the taller species. 

 The plant does not grow in tufts, but is perfectly distinct ; the 

 seed is larger, and is wanting in the rich golden-brown colour 

 which distinguishes true seed of Festuca ovina tenuifolia from 

 that of all other Fescues. On good soils Hard Fescue is 

 also undoubtedly superior to Red Fescue. In dry seasons the 

 former is quite able to hold its own, but in such years the 

 plant develops a partially creeping habit. Red Fescue, on 

 the contrary, in wet summers, loses to some extent its well- 

 known creeping character. This does not make it a matter of 

 indifference as to which of the two is sown. Each variety is 

 constant in character on the soil which suits it, and there is 

 waste of time and loss of fodder in putting either plant on land 



