PREFACE. 



It has been my endeavor, in the following pages, to 

 treat my subject in a plain, simple manner, so as to 

 enable the farmer to distinguish between the different 

 species of grass by means of the descriptions given, and 

 to awaken an interest in the pursuit of the subject, 

 treating cursorily of the natural history of the grasses, 

 and indicating to the reader the vast field of study which 

 lies open to him in this department. 



The illustrations, which will be found to be very care- 

 fully and accurately dra-svn, will tend to render the under- 

 standing of the text more easy, and thus make interesting 

 to all much that would be attractive only to the scientific 

 student of botany if they were omitted. 



In looking at the subject in its economical aspect, I 

 have tried to give all that is known to be of value, and 

 have presented the conclusions of practical men in regard 

 to points about which the opinions of individuals 

 actively engaged in agriculture differ. It has been my 

 object, in a word, to give the work an eminently practical 

 character, and not to make it merely a collection of doubt- 

 ful theories and vague generalities. It must be left to 

 the reader to determine how far I have accomplished this 

 purpose. 



