PREFACE. XVll 



their study, the number and difference of value of all the species 

 and varieties of grass will appear comparatively small, and the 

 necessity and importance of a particular selection proportionally 

 little. The natural consequence resulting from this is the want 

 of seed, which the Farmer might select from the most valuable 

 kinds, and employ the means of cultivating these, exclusive of 

 the less valuable or useless. 



Grasses have been recommended by persons who had formed 

 their judgment of their merits on imperfect trials, — which has 

 caused disappointment, and discouraged many from farther en- 

 deavours at improvement. Conclusions that are drawn from the 

 results of single or minute experiments, without accurately ascer- 

 taining the nature or qualities of the soils upon which they are 

 made, will be found often fallacious, and, even in the latter 

 instance, can only stand for single facts, which may lead to other 

 trials, but cannot furnish sufficient grounds for a general recom- 

 mendation. Nor should a grass be too hastily rejected ; the 

 results of one trial only will be found insufficient to form a true 

 estimate of its real value : it may be a very profitable plant for 

 permanent pasture, though not for the alternate husbandry, and 

 it may be more valuable for hay than for permanent pasture : for 

 instance, the meadow fox-tail {Alopecurus pratemis) is an early, 

 productive, and nutritive grass, but requires a longer period to 

 arrive at perfection from seed than two years : it is therefore, 

 compai^atively, unfit for the alternate husbandry, though highly 

 valuable for permanent pasture. The meadow cat's-tail {Phhiim 

 pratense) is remarkable for its weighty produce of culms, which 

 are more nutritive than those of any other grass, but the after- 

 math is very inconsiderable ; it is, in consequence, a most 

 valuable grass for hay, but requires to be combined with other 

 species of grass, whose produce consists principally of latter- 

 math, to render its culture so profitable, as it doubtless is, for 

 hay. Cock's-foot {Dactylis glomerata) arrives soon at perfection ; 

 it is early, and abundantly productive of nutritive foliage through- 

 out the season : its culms, or stalks, however, are but little 



