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equally abundant ; several of the Anthoxanthum odoratuim 

 n few of the Cijnosurus crhtatus ; and, as April advanced, the 

 Agrostis stolonifera, our Irish Fiorin, had contributed many. 



The following grasses were not so obtrusive, yet obviousl}' 

 indigenous to our soil, as I find them in all our natural 

 meadows ; the Fcstuca pratensis seemed the most common ; 

 i\e\t the Avena ftavescens ; then the Poa pratensis ; after these 

 came the Alopecuriis pratensis; then the Phleum pratense — 

 these two, and especially the last, more rarely. 



To these twelve grasses I have long paid particular attention, 

 giving each of them several distinct plots, that I might sub- 

 ject them to different experiments. The judgment I formed 

 of their respective qualities and comparative merits, from the 

 result of these experiments, I shall now proceed to detail, 

 arranging them in the order they seem to me to be entitled to 

 according to their several values. 



AOROSTIS STOLONIFERA, 



1st. I should commence with this grass, admitted to be our 

 Irish Fiorin, which I considered as far more valuable than any 

 other grass; and I persist in this opinion, notwithstanding the 

 recent condemnation of it by Mr. Arthur Young, who 

 stifrmatizes it with the opprobrious name of Red Robbin ; 

 pronouncing peremptorily, that " All kinds of cattle would 

 starve, rather than touch its herbage." 



Now, one reason, among many others, induces me to per- 

 sist 



