THK FOURTH EDITION. 



These were progressive steps towards a better know- 

 ledge of the grasses, and the specific value of some 

 few of them. But of the comparative value of all 

 those not in cultivation (and they were numerous), we 

 were still very much in the dark. 



Luckily, however, soon after the commencement of 

 the present century, it occurred to his Grace the 

 Duke of Bedford, whether or not it was practicable 

 to ascertain by chemical analysis the nutritive pro- 

 perties of the grasses. His Grace, it appears, applied 

 to the then eminent professor of chemistry. Sir Hum- 

 phry Davy, on the subject, and received a favourable 

 answer, together with an offer of assistance, in order- 

 ing a proper apparatus, and full directions for carry- 

 ing on the various operations, to fulfil as far as possi- 

 ble the patriotic wishes of his Grace. 



At this time, the Duke of Bedford possessed at Wo- 

 burn Abbey one of the most extensive and complete 

 grass gardens in the kingdom. This garden was 

 arranged, and the different species selected, and cul- 

 tivated for a requisite number of years, by his Grace's 

 gardener, the late Mr. George Sinclair, F. L.S. &c> 

 who, to a natural love of botanical as well as general 

 science, added intelligence, and a steady perseverance 

 in accomplishing whatever his duty imposed. 



In him the Duke found a willing and most compe- 

 tent agent, in carrying into execution, under the di- 

 rections of Sir Humphry Davy, his Grace's design of 

 analyzing the grasses, and which task he performed 

 with signal credit to himself, and much to the satis- 

 faction of his noble patron. 



As the results of this chemical investigation were 



