Z ADVERTISEMENT TO 



the inhabitants of warm countries. And though 

 they have no grasses which can be grazed, except on 

 the narrow margins of rivers, they have an arbores- 

 cent grass which is otherwise most useful to them, 

 namely, the quick-growing, lofty, and durable bam- 

 boo, besides many species of reeds ; and above all, 

 the inestimable sugar-cane (saccharum qfficinarum). 



The above-named plants are a few of the tropical 

 grasses ; and however well adapted to the climate, 

 and variously useful to the natives, and even to far 

 distant lands, they are not to be compared with the 

 hardier species of grasses which adorn and enrich the 

 temperate latitudes, whether considered as pasturable 

 or cereal. The food of man, as well as that of the 

 more useful animals, entirely depends on the produce 

 of our corn fields and our pastures. The improve- 

 ment of both has always been an especial object in 

 the business and proceedings of rural husbandry, and 

 particularly in the apportionment of meadow to pas- 

 ture land. The time has been in this country, when 

 providing sufiicient forage for live stock in winter 

 was a matter of the greatest difiiculty, and great 

 losses were sustained, and many advantages given up, 

 on account of the absolute want of winter fodder. 

 Old turf, suitable either for grazing or for the scythe, 

 was supposed to be a creation of centuries ; and that a 

 farmer who wished to lay down a meadow in his 

 youth, must see the end of his " threescore years and 

 ten" before he could possibly possess a piece of pas- 

 ture capable of keeping a score of sheep, or a couple 

 of cows. 



So much was the want of grass-land felt among 



