History. 
Agricultural 
value. 
Geographical 
distribution. 
Habitat. 
Limits of 
altitude, 
Climate. 
90 
6. Chamois fescue is distinguished from all the preceding varieties by having the whole 
lower half of its leaf-sheath entire. The five-ribbed leaf and the glaucous spikelets with short awns 
distinguish it from the following variety. It is met with on the chalk-formation of the northern Alps. 
7. Sheep’s fescue of Haller has the leaf-sheath like the preceding, but the blade is seven- 
ribbed; the spikelets have long awns and are not glaucous. It is very abundant on the Southern Alps. 
8. Alpine sheep’s fescue is distinguished from all the other varieties by its short anthers which are 
only 4 mm. long (in the other varieties, 2 to 3 mm.), It grows on the high Alps (Engadine, Gemmi, 
Rawil, Bagnes, Bex, Chateau d’Oex, Faulhorn etc.). 
In olden times, sheep’s fescue was cultivated in N, Germany. Mauke in 1818 recommended it. 
He says »This is the most valuable of all pasture grasses for sheep; their rational rearing depends 
largely on a knowledge of it. Sheep prefer it to all other grasses, and they thrive best where it is 
abundant. Experience shows that in localities where other grasses grow along with sheep’s fescue, 
he sheep leave the others untouched, and seek out the fescue, on which they become fat, and produce 
fine wool. To improve our sheep, all dry and barren spots should, therefore, be sown with this grass, 
and such land can be turned to no better account.« Mauke's praise requires considerable limitation; it 
shows that, at the beginning of the century, agriculturists appreciated the value of this fescue. 
Though this grass is insignificant in size, it is, nevertheless, of great importance, because 
it thrives on poor and dry sands where better grasses cannot grow. Further, it tends to improve 
the soil, as it produces roots in abundance. On good land, it should not be sown, or, at 
most, only a very small proportion should be used, because more valuable plants can be 
produced. When the soil is so dry and poor that no other fodder plants can grow upon 
it, then sheep’s fescue should be used. It serves only as pasture; upon poor ground it 
does not grow sufficiently high for mowing. Cattle do not like it, but sheep eat it more 
readily ; however, when other grasses can be obtained, the sheep rather avoid it. It is 
rough and hard even in its youth, and cattle only to eat it when forced by hunger. There- 
fore, it ought only to-be grown as a pasture plant on poor soils. On good soils it becomes 
somewhat larger, and can then be used as bottom grass in hay mixtures. 
Occurrence, climate, soil, manure. Genuine sheep’s fescue is indigenous to Europe, extending 
to Iceland and Spitzbergen; to Sub- Arctic and Eastern Asia, to Japan and the Himalayas; also to 
British North America. It has been introduced into other parts of North America. 
Hard fescue is common throughout Western and Southern Europe, but rare in Central, and very 
rare in Northern and Eastern Europe. It occurs neither in Greece nor Sicily. In Asia, it occurs on 
Caucasus, Armenia, Altai and Mongolia. It is also found in New Holland und New Zealand As different 
varieties are spoken of as F. duriuscula, these localities must be taken with reserve (Hackel). 
Sheep’s fescue abounds on dry pastures and sandy land, on the borders of fields and roadsides, 
on sandhills, mountains, and other dry localities. It extends from the sea level to the high Alps, 
and is always most abundant on dry ground. 
On the Alps, genuine sheep’s fescue reaches altitudes of 5,900 ft. (Matt 2,800 ft., Rofflen on 
the Spliigen road 3,440—3,930 ft., St. Moritz 5.900 ft.). Hard sheep’s fescue rises to 6,890 ft. (summit 
of Mount Camoghe 3,940—4,920 ft,, Bevers and Celerina 5,740 ft., St. Moritz 5,900 ft., Pass of Foscagna 
6,890 ft.; at Maloja the form levigata occurs at 5,900—6,890 ft.). Fine-leaved fescue rises at Faido 
to 2,370 ft., in other localities it probably occurs at higher elevations, 
Temperature and climatic influences have little effect on this grass. It bears extreme 
drought as is clearly shewn by the fact that it is very common in Southern Kurope at the 
period of greatest drought. Extreme drought, no doubt, checks its growth, but immediately 
moist weatHer returns, a fresh start is made. 
