b CONTRIBUTIONS FROM TH1 NATIONAL HERB A RICH, 



ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE. 



Several of the species of Festuca are of high agricultural value, both 

 grazing and for meadows. Among the former perhaps the most 

 important is Festuca ovina, the sheep fescue, and it- numerous Bub- 

 species, some of which arc found native in most parts of the world. 

 The most valuable American grass of this group is probably Festuca 

 ovina ingrata Hackel, the "blue bunch Lira—" of stockmen, which 

 ranges from British Columbia and Alberta to Calif ornia and ( Colorado. 

 In part- of the range country, notably the Columbia Basin, it is con- 

 sidered the second best of the range grasses. In Arizona and New 

 Mexico this grass is replaced by the larger and coarser, but not less 

 nutritious, Arizona bunch grass, F. ovina arizonica (Vasey) Hack. 

 Other subspecies of Festuca ovina ocean- in alpine and subarctic 

 regions, and furnish more or Less abundant forage. 



Festuca rubra L., the red fescue, occurs in abundance along l>oth 

 sea coasts in sandy soil, and in the West is plentiful in the mountains 

 at low altitudes. In restricted areas it is an important forage grass. 



Festuca altaica Trin. is abundant in Alaska, often covering Large 

 areas with its large tussocks. From very limited experience with it 

 this grass seems to be quite as nutritious as its near allies. 



Festuca viridula Vasey is the most nutritious grass in the mountain 

 parks of the Cascade, Blue, and Hitter Hoot mountains. It often 

 occupies Large areas in nearly pure growth. Unfortunately it is 

 unable to withstand severe grazing, and consequently where sheep 

 have been herded this grass has well-nigh disappeared. 



The annual species, especially Festuca octqflora, are of considerable 

 value in semiarid grazing regions. They spring up very quickly when 

 the rainy season begins in the fall, furnishing grazing when nothing 

 else is available, and again in early spring they provide the first green 

 forage. 



Festuca elatior L., the tall fescue, a European species, is very valu- 

 able as a hay and pasture grass, but in this country i> little grown 

 a- yet. except in the eastern portion of Kansas and Nebraska. A 

 smaller form of it. the meadow fescue, used only in pastures and 

 lawn-, i- sometimes known in this country a- English bluegrass, or. 

 technically, a- Ft stuca pratt nsis I Luds. or Festuca elatior prafa nsis Gray. 

 According to the best European authorities, however, F. elatior L. 

 and F.pratensis Suds, are exactly identical. so that, whatever he the 

 distinction of the two form- agriculturally, the botanical names both 

 belong with tall fescue. 



