O ADVERTISEMENT TO 



of Bedford, and gave the author opportunity to ex- 

 press his grateful acknowledgements to his noble 

 patron and employer, for his Grace's " most liberal, 

 kind, and unwearied encouragement, bestowed on an 

 humble individual, anxious to prove himself worthy 

 of the trust reposed in him, while engaged in gain- 

 ing and communicating useful knowledge in a branch 

 of one of the most important of the arts." 



The author next, in an advertisement, acknow- 

 ledges his obligations to those of his friends, from 

 whom he had received advice and assistance in the 

 prosecution of his laborious undertaking. Among 

 these are the names of Sir Humphry Davy ; Thomas 

 Greg, Esq. of Coles, Hertfordshire ; James Sow^erby, 

 Esq. F.L.S.; Mr. Andrew Wilson, of the Park Farm, 

 from whom he received the chief of his information 

 relative to breaking up old and laying down new 

 pastures ; Messrs. Thomas Gibbs and Co., Seedsmen 

 to the late Board of Agriculture, for collections of 

 seeds, soils, and much useful information on the ge- 

 neral subject. He also gives the names of authors 

 from whom he has taken extracts or descriptions. 



The following are extracts from the first Introduc- 

 tion, viz. 



Distinguished agriculturists agree in opinion, 

 that the knowledge of the comparative merits and 

 value of the different species and varieties of grasses, 

 and best mode of cultivating them, is very much 

 behind that of the other branches of practical agri- 

 culture. 



Out of two hundred and fifteen species of grass 

 which may be cultivated in this country, many of 



