54 PEEMANENT AND TEMPOEAKY PASTUEES. 



the root is not creeping, and in dry seasons Festuca duriuscula 

 is more than able to hold its own. I must also add, that in 

 dry seasons Festuca duriuscula temporarily develops a partially 

 creeping habit, and in wet seasons Festuca rubra becomes less 

 creeping than in dry years. This does not make it a matter of 

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

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

 of time and fodder in putting either plant on land where it wiU 

 take several years to adapt itself to uncongenial surroundings. 



The folded, almost cylindrical, stiff, deep glaucous green 

 leaves, which radiate from the point of union of the short sheaths, 

 and the absence of a ligule, are sufficient to determine the presence 

 of this species in the pasture. 



As Hard Fescue is the most widely distributed of the 

 small Fescues, the seed is naturally the cheapest, and is fre- 

 quently accepted for the higher priced sorts by those who are 

 unacquainted with its appearance. This variety may properly 

 be regarded as the least expensive and most desirable base, or 

 bottom-herbage grass, of a permanent mixture for all soils that 

 are not very wet. But for alternate prescriptions it should be 

 used cautiously, because on some soils the plant is difficult 

 to eradicate, and after a ley is broken up it is often troublesome 

 among corn. 



Stimulating manures do little or nothing for Hard Fescue ; 

 they only encourage other grasses at its expense. At Kidmore 

 the bone plots exhibited the most favourable results. 



The botanical description and chemical analysis are given 

 on page 150, facing an illustration. 



FESTUCA EUBEA 

 {Bed Fescue). 



The common name is derived from the reddish-brown colour 

 of the lower leaf-sheaths. The difficulty of obtaining pure seed 

 of this grass has fostered the frequently expressed opinion that it 



