GRASSES OF MINOR IMPORTANCE 1 77 



closely resembling it. Much of the fescue-seed sold in 

 America is imported, and in consequence of our lack 

 of laws on the subject, as stated before, it is frequently 

 the refuse of the European trade. Add to this the 

 well-established position of timothy hay as the stand- 

 ard on our own markets, and we have an indidlment 

 that would convicft any grass. The difficulty of secur- 

 ing good seed cheaply, the uncertainty of securing a 

 stand even with good seed, and the relatively low 

 yield as compared with timothy, probably account for 

 the lack of recognition of meadow-fescue in this coun- 

 try. Nevertheless, stock show a decided preference 

 for this grass. In experiments with cattle turned into 

 a grass-garden where several hundred grasses and 

 legumes were growing, meadow- fescue and tall fescue 

 were always eaten in preference to all others except the 

 rye-grasses. 



Meadow-fescue is occasionally met with in New 

 » England, New York, Pennsylvania, eastern Kentucky, 

 and very sparingly elsewhere in the timothy region. 

 In eastern Kansas it rises to considerable importance, 

 and a great deal of seed of it is grown there and in ad- 

 jacent counties in Missouri. Like most all the less- 

 known grasses, when it occurs at all in this country it 

 is near the outer margin of the timothy region. 



In Oregon, Washington, and northern Idaho 

 meadow and tail fescue are regarded with considerable 

 favor. On the basaltic wheat-producing soils of east- 

 ern Washington and northern Idaho tall fescue, when 

 a good stand of it is secured, is undoubtedly one of 

 the best grasses, both for hay and for pasture. If 

 the difficulty in securing a good catch could be mas- 



