67. Festuca elatior, Linn-Tall Fescue, Tall Meadow Fescue, English Blue-grass, Randall-grass, Evergreen-grass.

Tall Meadow
Fescue.

Festuca elatior.

This grass is very justly receiving much attention from farmers in the State. It is an exceedingly valuable grass, either for mowing or pasture. It is productive on soils which are not too dry, and being of long duration, it is especially valuable for permanent meadows. It thrives best on moist soils, which are rich in humus, whether marls or clays. It presents several varieties, one of which is known. as Festuca pratensis and the other Festuca arundinacea. The last is a very vigorous-growing form, and has done exceedingly well in our experimental plots. In amount of forage produced we have grown nothing equal to it among those species suitable for hay.

68. Festuca nutans, Willd.-Nodding Fescue.

This is a native species of fescue which is common in open rocky woods, or along the woody borders of moist meadows. Its stems are rather slender, usually about three feet high, with a loosely flowered and drooping panicle. Of little agricultural value, probably not worth cultivating.

69. Festuca ovina, Linn.-Sheep's Fescue, Pinon-grass (in Nevada), Pine Bunch-grass.

Sheep's Fescue-Festuca ovina.

This grass has been sparingly introduced here in cultivation. It is of some value as a bottom grass when sown with species which do not from their habit of growth fully occupy the soil, and it is also valuable for sheep pastures. It thrives well here, even on soils which are of poor quality. "Its appropriate place in cultivation is on light, dry soils, especially those which are poor, shallow, and silicious. In such cases, it is a great boon to the agriculturist." (Stebler & Schroeter.)

70. Festuca pratensis, Linn-Meadow Fescue, Randallgrass.

This is only a variety of Festuca elatior (see above,) being somewhat smaller than that species, with a narrower and fewer-flowered panicle.

71. Festuca rubra, L. var. glaucescens. Tennessee Fescue, Glau

cous Creeping Fescue.

This grass was described and figured in Vol. IV, No. 1, of our Station Bulletins, (p. 24, plate III.) It is closely related to the

Red or Creeping Fescue of Europe and our more Northern States, and possesses a similar habit of growth. It is an excellent turf-forming grass, and will doubtless withstand well the tramping of stock. It remains green the year round, being little affected by drought or severe winter weather. It grows to the height of one or two feet, has a great mass of fine rootleaves, and may be recommended for pastures, especially upon worn-out soils and hill-slopes.

72. Festuca tenella, Slender Fescue.

This is a native annual species, six inches or a foot high, growing only in very dry and sandy soil, along road sides, etc. 73. Glyceria aquatica, Sm.-Reed Meadow-grass, White Speargrass.

A stout grass with upright culms, three to five feet high, growing along the margins of streams and in very wet meadows. Native, but apparently not common; Gattinger records only one locality, and up to the present time I have not observed it within the State. It is a good grass for fodder where it grows spontaneously (Glyceria grandis), S. Watson.)

74. Glyceria fluitans, R. Br.-Floating Manna-grass, Common Manna-grass.

This is a very widely distributed species, and is probably to be found within the State, although not yet recorded as occurring here. It grows in similar situations with G. aquatica, but is more slender in habit and has a more elongated and fewer-flowered panicle, with long and narrow spikelets.

75. Glyceria nervata, Trin.--Fowl Meadow-grass, Meadow Speargrass, Nerved Manna-grass.

This is our most common species, frequent in moist meadows and along streams. It is a leafy perennial grass, one to three feet high, with a loose and nodding panicle. Of some agricultural value, where it grows naturally, and for such locations may be worth cultivating. Glyceria acutiflora, Torr., Glyceria pallida, Trin., and Glycera elongata, are other species of this genus found in Tennessee, all growing in marshy or very wet places; the last named is found only upon the higher mountains in the eastern part of the State.

76. Gymnopogon racemosus, Beauv.-Naked Beard-grass.

A rather common grass in open pine woods and sandy soil along thicket borders. The clustered, wiry stems spring from a short perennial root-stalk, and bear numerous short and rather broad leaves. Blooms in August and September. Of no agricultural value.

77. Gynerium argenteum.-Pampas-grass.

A well known ornamental grass, cultivated for its large and handsome silvery white panicles or "plumes."

78. Holcus lanatus, Linn.-Velvet-grass, Velvet Meadow Softgrass, Velvet Mesquit, Velvet Lawn-grass, Wooly Softgrass, White Timothy, Yorkshire White, Yorkshire Fog, Salem-grass, Feather-grass, Calf-kill, Hungarian Bluegrass.

This grass is covered with soft, whitish hairs, so that to the touch it feels somewhat like velvet. It is a European grass, but is to be found here and there over the State, having been introduced with the seed of other grasses. Owing to its light color it is striking in appearance, and is said to be a valuable grass for light thin soils which are unsuited to the growth of more valuable sorts. It should only be sown in mixtures. (See page 55.) 79. Hordeum pratense, Huds.-Wild Barley, Squirrel-tail-grass. A native species of barley-grass growing to the height of six to eighteen inches, and reported by Gattinger as common on thin lands. It is probably an annual, and is of little or no agricultural value.

80. Leersia oryzoides, Sw.-Rice Cut-grass, Rice-grass, Cut-grass, False Rice, White-grass, European Cut-grass, Prickle-grass. A common grass along streams and wet borders of thickets. It has very rough leaves and a whitish panicle, which expands in August. Of no value in agriculture.

81. Leersia Virginica, Willd.- Virginia Cut-grass, White-grass, Small-flowered White-grass.

Common, and growing in similar situations with the last. It is more slender and delicate in its habit than Rice-grass, but is equally valueless.

82. Leptocloa mucronata, Kunth.-Feather-grass.

An annual weed common in rich cultivated grounds and gardens. It grows to the height of two to four feet, has rather broad leaves and a long, terminal, somewhat feather-like panicle (panicle-like raceme.)

83. Lolium Italicum, Braun.-Italian Rye-grass.

An excellent grass for rich and rather moist lands. It is a very rapid grower, forms a dense turf, and in Europe is regarded as one of the best grasses for mowing. On heavy clays or on any very dry soil it does not do well, but on good calcareous loams, or marls, or on moist, loamy sands when the soil is in good condition, the yield is large, and "no other grass repays manuring so well." It lasts only for two or three years.