OBSERVATIONS ON GRASSES. 371 



on by fuch as are likely to have influence fuf- 

 ficient in thefe matters. As to my own lift, it 

 is only meant as a hint fcir others to work upon. 



In giving names i have had two things in 

 view. Firll to retain as much as poflible fuch 

 as have hitherto beenufed for fome fpecies of the 

 genus. Secondly, where that could not be done, 

 to give fuch as are of eafy and familiar pronun- 

 ciation to our common people, and at the fame 

 time approach as near as poftible to the Latin 

 names in found where they could not be in- 

 terpreted. This was done for the fake of the 

 learned for the more eafy recolledling the bo- 

 tanical name. Thus i have called the ah'a hair- 

 grafs, the hromus brome-gr^i^s^ &c. in others i 

 have merely tranflated the Latin name, as 

 alopecurus fox-tail grafs, cynofurus dog-tail 

 grafs, &c. 



After thefe preliminary obfervations i hope 

 it will not be neceflliry to make any apology for 

 the liberty i have taken. I am certain that till 

 names properly adapted to the purpofe be in- 

 vented, we have little chance of feeing any ge- 

 neral reformation made in this part of huiband- 

 ry, and even after this v/i thou t fome perfon 

 properly qualified to diredt the countrey peo- 

 ple, and fhcw them the graffes with their names, 

 B 2 nothing 



