54 PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY PASTURES 



Where Sheep's Fescue grows freely it is a favourable 

 indication of a healthy neighbourhood. 



For hay this grass is practically useless, as the growth 

 is too dwarf to be gathered by machine or scythe. This 

 is pre-eminently a pasture grass for sheep on poor light 

 soils and in hilly country, especially where the subsoil is 

 chalk, and it is generally believed to exercise a beneficial 

 influence on the wool. It forms a principal component 

 of the pastures on chalk downs, where its herbage is 

 very sweet and nourishing, and Southdown mutton doubt- 

 less owes its fine flavour and quality to being fed on this 

 wholesome grass. In Scotland it constitutes a large part 

 of the sheep herbage of the Highlands, and all through 

 Russia and Siberia it affords almost the only pasturage for 

 cattle and sheep on dry, sandy, rocky soils where no other 

 grass will grow. In this country horned stock show it no 

 favour. 



The roots penetrate to a great depth, and it is note- 

 worthy that as the plant is unable to avail itself of nitrogenous 

 manures, it soon disappears from a pasture which is manured 

 to suit stronger-growing grasses. 



Fine-leaved Sheep's Fescue is peculiarly adapted for 

 autumn or, correctly speaking, for late summer sowing. The 

 seedlings are so small that they are liable to be choked by 

 spring weeds, and if sheep are turned in too soon they tear up 

 many plants. But when well established on a poor thin soil 

 Festuca ovina tenuifolia maintains its position, and is a match 

 for any intruder. Full development is not attained until the 

 second or third year. 



The long, slender, setaceous, folded leaves, no thicker than 

 thread, and tightly encased by the sheaths in pairs and threes, 

 together with the russet green of the foliage, will ensure the 

 recognition of this grass in upland pastures. 



On the soils which especially suit Fine-leaved Fescue it 

 is almost indispensable, and the feeding value is very high. 



