2 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



genera, embracing 4,000 species, to which yearly discoveries 

 are constantly adding. As "nothing was made in vain," then, 

 of this numerous family, distributed throughout the whole 

 world, each was made for a purpose, and has a place to fill in 

 creation's plan. 



The dividing line between a grass and a weed, is a "devious 

 path where fancy leads," for many of the so-called weeds are 

 real grasses, or friends in disguise, and many of the true 

 grasses are de facto weeds, or enemies to be avoided. Barn 

 grass (^Panicum cms galli), and Witch-grass {Triticum. 

 r&pens) become grasses or weeds, just as their room is or is 

 not "better than their company." They fill the place in the 

 play of "now you see it, and now you don't." 



Of the friendly forage grasses, of which there are hundreds, 

 most farmers cultivate only the friendship of herds-grass, red- 

 top and clover. A few add orchard grass and brown-top, and 

 occasionally one, shaping a course by something more tan- 

 gible than ancestral "say-so's," adds twelve, or twenty, to his 

 retinue of grass friends. 



Such of our agricultural book makers as have not stepped 

 out into the field of truth and common sense, recommend 

 only six sorts as the full complement of friendly grasses 

 which can rightfully claim a natural superiority ; when acres 

 of observation are covered with facts which have grown up 

 in spite of the old dead-stufll' of the past, showing that neither 

 six nor ten times six, reach the highest number of grasses of 

 natural pre-eminence. 



Herds-grass, red-top and clover, are the creations of man ; 

 their superior merits are due to the loving kindness of cul- 

 ture, while the ugliness of many a grass, driven into exile as 

 a weed, is chargeable to neglect. 



The symmetrical form and beauty of our thoroughbreds, 

 the luscious and health-giving fruits, the cereal grains, and 

 thousands of the beautiful flowers, 



" That consecrate this fallen world of ours," 

 are not found in nature, their excellencies have been evolved 

 b}'^ the vigilance of man. 



