No. 112.] 311 



GRASSES. 



The committee to whom was referred a paper presented by 

 Mr. Delalield, on. the subject of introducing other varieties of 

 Grasses than those in general cultivation in our country, with a 

 view to the improvement of our pastures and hay meadows, re- 

 spectfully report : 



That although we have in cultivation some extremely valuable 

 kinds of grass, yet they are so few in number, in comparison with 

 the superior grasses of Great Britain, that we must acknowledge 

 this important subject has never received from American Agri- 

 culturists the attention to which its great importance entitles it. 

 We ought to avail ourselves of the experience of the British far- 

 mer, and make, in our turn, careful experiments with his most 

 approved grasses, to ascertain their adaptedness to our climate 

 and soils. 



Early in the present century the Duke of Bedford instituted, 

 at his estate of Woburu Abbey, under the immediate direction of 

 his gardner, Mr. George Sinclair, a series of careful experiments, 

 on the various grasses of England, with a view to test their pecu- 

 liarities of habit, their productiveness -, and lastly, their nutri- 

 tious properties. T he last point was entrusted to the care of Sir 

 Humphrey Davy, whose table of the comparative value of the 

 diilerent grasses for food was obtained by the most careful che- 

 mical analysis, and must always be of great value to Agricul- 

 tuiists. We are fortunate in having access to the history of these 

 experiments, aud to the experience of British farmers, for for- 

 ty years, as tending to verify tlie results.* 



It is asserted that upwards of two hundred varieties of grasses 

 are grown in Great Britain, most of them indigenoui. Some idea 

 of the great variety to be found in their natural pastures may 1)0 

 formed from this fact, that in a single sod, taken from a rich pas 

 ture tield, were found u])uards of thirty varieiii-s of grass. Mr. 

 Sinclair expresses the opinion that in the rich pastures there are 

 usually twenty-six or more varieties. 



