228 GRASSES AND FORAGE PLANTS. 



something each year towards improving his pasture lands. He 

 may lessen the area of the bushes, he may plough up a small piece 

 at least, and seed down at once with grass seed and winter rye, 

 either in the spring or in the fall, and in either case his stock 

 will fare enough better to pay for it, and the next year he 

 may take another piece in the same pasture till tlie whole is 

 finished, when it will carry more stock, and more stock will 

 give him more man lire, and more manure will increase the 

 fertility of other lands, and increased fertility will add to his 

 means of further improvement. The difficulty with most small 

 farmers is to begin. Well begun is half well done, for the 

 moment any real improvement is begun in earnest, the interest 

 is excited, the mental activity is increased, the desire for 

 improvement partakes the nature of a passion, and hence, 

 though the beginning may be small, the ending may be the 

 renovation of the owner as well as the land. 



In conclusion, I have one farther suggestion to make, and 

 that is, as to the propriety of encouraging the collection of 

 grasses for exhibition at the anniversary festivals of our agri- 

 cultural societies. It would be an easy thing, I think, to 

 engage many in this fascinating pursuit. Some, undoubtedly, 

 would be interested by the simple suggestion, but the offer of 

 small premiums for the largest and best arranged collection 

 would induce others to attempt it who now want something to 

 stimulate them to the work. The premium, however small, 

 might afford the necessary stimulus, and if an interest were 

 once excited, the subject would -be still farther pursued, till 

 many others were interested, while the collections, if properly 

 jiamcd, would do much to disseminate a higher knowledge of 

 the exhaustless riches of this class of plants. 



" Tlie royal rose — the tulip's glow — 

 The jasmine's gold are fair to see ; 

 But wliilc the graceful grasses grow, 

 O, gatlier them for me ! 



Til' pansy's gold and purple wing, 



The snowdrop's smile may light the lea ; 



But while the fragrant grasses spring, 

 My wreath of them shall be ! " 



