PREFACE. 
Agriculture is an art that renders those who understand it rich, but leaves those who do not 
understand it, however much they may labour in it, to live in poverty.— Xenophon, 434-355, B.C. 
When we consider that about one-third of the improved land 
in Canada is under fodder and forage crops, the importance of dis- 
seminating information respecting fodder and pasture plants must 
be apparent to all. That the interest taken in these plants really is 
very great is amply illustrated by the numerous inquiries that have 
" been received during recent years by the Department of Agriculture. 
It is, therefore, the purpose of this book to provide, in a form 
convenient for reference, fairly comprehensive information about 
those grasses, clovers and other fodder and pasture plants that are 
generally acknowledged to be of valuein Canada. The introduction 
into Canada from time to time of different fodder and pasture plants 
which are of more or less importance in different parts of Europe 
has induced the authors also to deal with a number of plants that 
are not as yet well known in Canada, but for some reason or other 
might prove in future to be of general or local value. 
The aim of the book being to present only well-established facts 
and practices, no attempt has been made to advance or support new 
or questionable ideas or theories. It has been the endeavour to 
bring together only a summary of authentic information that may 
prove interesting and helpful to farmers, students of agriculture and 
others who may be interested in the development of the vast agricul- 
tural resources of Canada. 
As the book has been written with the intention to make its 
contents intelligible to all classes of readers, the use of technical 
terms has been avoided as much as possible. It has, however, been 
found necessary to append a glossary in which technical or semi- 
, technical terms contained in the text are listed. 
5 
