AGRICULTURAL GRASSES 47 



shorter period than three or four years. I regard it as a land- 

 lord's grass, to be used principally for permanent pastures. 



Festuca pratensis seldom flowers until the end of June, 

 and does not usually mature seed until the first week in 

 August. The ripening of seed lowers the nutritive quality, 

 but it does not greatly diminish the bulk. Sinclair's experi- 

 ments proved that between the time of flowering and the 

 development of seed the depreciation in feeding value was 

 very serious indeed. But there is no need to anticipate loss on 

 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. In early districts, where 

 hay is cut in the first or second week of June, this grass will 

 not be at its best, and therefore it 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 it 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 tenuifolia, 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 Foxtail. These two 



