t 7« 1 



tional improvement in the Weftern counties; and 

 a$ a well-wifher to the undertaking, I beg leave to 

 throw a few remarks before you on a fubjed: noc 

 unworthy your attention. 



It is well known that grafles furnifli the principal 

 food of our cattle j but among the natural clafles 

 of plants, there are many, of the legumineus tribe 

 cfpeciaUy, on which they feed with avidity. 



Numerous inftances, however, occur of one clafs 

 of animals feeding eagerly on thofe plants which 

 other* rcfufe to touch. Plants, that are noxious 

 and even poifonous to fome animals, are freely 

 eaten by others without the lead inconvenience.-^. 

 Nence it feems that there is a peculiar ftrudlure in 

 the veflels of each fpecies of beads, to which only 

 the particles of different vegetables are refpedlively 

 adapted. But there has not, to my knowledge, 

 been any regular courfe of experiments made in 

 England for afcertaining precifely the feveral fpe- 

 cies of plants thus eaten or rejeded, or a regular 

 lift formed and publilhed of thofe that are noxious. 

 Such a courfe of experiments is greatly wanted, 

 and would doubtlefs be produdivc of much benefit 

 * to the publick. 



The celebrated Linnse\i4 fuperintended a great 



<ittempt of this kind in Sweden many years fioce, 



F 2 tht- 



