60 PEEMANENT AND TEMPOEAEY PASTUEES. 



Festuca ovina hordeiformis, or Long-awned Sheep's Fescue, and 

 he was of opinion that at least one half of the nutritive value 

 of the grass was lost when allowed to ripen seed. The foliage 

 is darker and more glossy than that produced by other Fescues. 

 It is extensively grown in France, and, although a southern plant, 

 I am satisfied that in this country, especially in all the warmer 

 districts, it might with advantage be sown with greater freedom 

 than is usual on strong well-drained soils, where Festuca ovina 

 tenuifolia and even Festuca duriuscula are liable to be over- 

 powered by Cocksfoot. Various-leaved Fescue shows a decided 

 partiality for calcareous land, succeeds in marshes, and grows 

 better under the shade of trees than in the open. It is a most 

 valuable Fescue, and indeed one of the best of the finer grasses. 

 The early growth makes it exceedingly useful in a pasture, but 

 the aftermath is small. 



This Fescue will not alone make a homogeneous turf, as the 

 plants form tufts which will not amalgamate ; but in company 

 with Festuca rubra and Poa pratensis it will fully occupy the soil. 



The loose brown sheaths and triangular form of the harsh, 

 long, slender root-leaves are points by which this grass may 

 easily be recognised in the absence of the flower-head. 



To ensure true seed the crop has to be grown alone, because 

 the heads when ripe resemble other Fescues so closely that it 

 is difficult for the collectors who pick it by hand to gather a 

 perfectly true sample. 



The botanical description and chemical analysis are given 

 on page 156, facing an illustration. 



FESTUCA OVINA TENUIFOLIA 

 {Fine-leaved Sheep's Fescue). 



Under the name of Festuca ovina all the smaller Fescues are 

 sometimes grouped, and much confusion has resulted from the 

 practice. A writer will speak very strongly for or against Festuca 



