160 GRASSES AND FORAGE PLANTS. 



liable to lose sight of tlio fact that tho loss of a full yield, in 

 tlie meantime, is often very serious. 



But the inference which farmers draw from this fact is not a 

 legitimate one, for they say that it proves tha,t the grasses that 

 come in " naturally," that is, the wild grasses, arc best adapted 

 to the soil, and will produce more largely than others in that 

 locality. But this, if carried out to its natural consequences, 

 would lead to the conclusion that new species of plants should 

 never bo introduced into any soil, because those best suited to 

 it grow there " naturally " — a principle which no man will 

 assert. On the contrary, one great object of all intelligent 

 farming is to improve upon nature, and to increase the natural 

 capacities both of the soil and of the plants vfhich grow on it ; 

 and tho introduction of new species and varieties is one of tho 

 most effectual means of accomplishing this end. Particular 

 species of plants do not always spring up in particular places 

 because tliey are peculiarly adapted to tlie soil, but often from 

 mere accident. Seeds arc carried by the wind or by animals or 

 birds, and being dropped, produce plants on the spot where they 

 fall. These plants again produce seeds which fall and in their 

 turn produce other plants. Thus a particular species of grass 

 or any plant may be introduced into, and fixed in a locality 

 where it has no special adaptation to the soil there, and the most 

 common j^lants or varieties of plants will be most likely to 

 spread in this way. Hence the mere fact that a certain species 

 is very generally diffused in a certain district, does not by any 

 means prove that it is better suited to the soil of tliat district 

 than any other species, nor that it will be sure to come in if 

 omitted in a mixture of grasses designed for such a locality. 



As already said, the mixture of grass seed-s in imitation of 

 nature for the purpose of forming good permanent fields or 

 pastures, is of comparatively modern origin. It was, for a long 

 time after this practice commenced, thought to require a great 

 while to form a thick and good sward or turf, by any artificial 

 means. The use of a large and judiciously selected number of 

 species, has been found to accomplish this object most quickly. 



Though I have expressed myself with some degree of confi- 

 dence on this subject, I would still refer to the importance 

 of careful experiment. Tiie outlay is small, when compared 

 with tho losses now sustained in over-seedinsr witli too few 



