38 
Nutritive Judged by following analyses, the fodder has considerable nutritive value. 1,000 Ibs. of hay contain: — 
value. Ritthausen and Wolff. Arendt, Collier. 
Scheven. 
Organic Matter . . . . . 80.3 81.5 79.8 Fey 
composed of: — 
Albumin (N 6,25) . . . 88 10.2 6.4 9.2 
Ribke a 8 Feet GS ee 32.6 — 20.8 
Non-nitrogenous extractives . 34.9 36.9 — hd 
i ie ee ty oe eet BM 3 7 1.8 1.8 2.8 
Harvesting Harvesting, Impurities and Adulteration of seed. It is profitable to produce seed of 
the seed. Meadow fescue, as harvesting is easy and the yield large. Seed should be taken from the 
first cutting. It is ripe about the end of July, when the pales have assumed a brown 
tint. The plants are then cut and treated as directed for Cocksfoot (which see). 
Yield of seed. Pinkert obtained 700 lbs. of seed per acre. Werner estimates the yield at 200—222 Ibs. 
Impurities Commercial seed often contains Perennial rye-grass, which, being cheap, is often in- 
and tentionally added. 50 °%/o or more may be perennial rye-grass. The two kinds of seed are 
adulterations. eee: Li ee. Cp atacte 
externally very similar and can only be distinguished after 
long practice. The great point of distinction lies in the 
O stalk. In Meadow fescue it is longer, narrower, rownd in C_) 
section, and not so closely pressed against the inner pale &@ 
(fig. 16). In Perennial rye-grass, on the other hand, it is b 
shorter, broader, and closely pressed against the inner glume ; Fig. 17. 
ae ee oP the breadth gradually diminishes from the apex to the base. anes Se 
pratensis, Huds. In seed of Tall fescue (estuca elatior) of commerce, Perennial Perennial rye-grass 
Leib nae rye-grass is readily known by its pale. It is flat and awnless, , ,, Pesril cs. 
b. longitudinal view Whereas the pale of Tall fescue has a short apical awn. >. longitudinal view 
Seed and amounts to be sown. ‘he average purity of commercial seed is 82 °%/o, and 
the germinating power 71 °/o. A good sample, however, should have 95 °/o purity, and at 
least 75 °/o germinating power = 71.3 °/o of pure and germinating seed. 
Seed quality. 
1 Ib. of pure seed contains 318,200 grains, and the best quality of seed 226,400 grains. 
The weight per bushel varies from 12—26 lbs. 
Amount of To cover an acre of ground with Meadow fescue requires 52 Ibs. of seed containing 
seed per acre. 7] °/o of pure and germinating seed. The average price of seed is 1/- per pound, and to 
sow an acre would cost about £# 2. 12/-. It is therefore a relatively dear grass. 
Matures: Meadow fescue, unless cultivated for seed, is never sown pure, but always mixed with 
other grasses. Since full produce is obtained only in the second and third years of growth, it 
is hot suitable for mixing with clovers to form »clover grass«. Its appropriate place is in 
alternate husbandry and permanent pastures. For irrigated lands and for meadows it can 
form 20 °/o or even more of the whole mixture; for short leys, rarely more than 15 °/o. 
