26(5 Essay on yJgrkidiure as a Science. 



The experimentalist would soon have discovered that the 

 glasses possessing all, or the majority of these valuable qualities, 

 ■were very few in number, and that rye-grass was not among them. 



When I cease to generalize, I shall give a small essay on the 

 grasses worth cultivation, having ascertained their coanparative 

 values, after nnich pains, and with great accuracy. 



The miserable ignorance of the practical agriculturists on the 

 subject of the gramina is easily accounted for ; they have con- 

 signed the task of instructing them on all rural subjects to two 

 descrijitions of persons — the Grub-street writers, who, without 

 ever having cultivated or perhaps seen a farm, maintain them- 

 selves by furnishing agricultural magazines and newspapers 

 with essays on such subjects as their employers point out, con- 

 ceiving them to be popular at the time. 



The second description of public instructors in the agricultural 

 line are, the seed- and nursery-men, who, having their goods 

 to dispose of, take the opportunity of displaying their own great 

 knowledge, and of puffing theirsaleablecommodities; these gentry 

 often publish agricultural volumes, which they find a very lucra- 

 tive trade, as the English buy every thing in that line, conceiv- 

 ing they are purchasing information. 



The ignorance of these charlatans is scarcely credible, nor is 

 it easy to tell to what mischief it may have led ; both the seeds- 

 men and the books of their predecessors have recipes, nos- 

 trums, stating mixtures of eight or nine different species of grass, 

 which they advise agriculturists to throw together in certain 

 proportions of the seeds, and then to sow one mixture for mea- 

 dow, another for pasture. 



An examination of these lists bv any one who understands the 

 natural history and qualities of the several grasses, will instantly 

 discover the mischievous ignorance of those (juacks. 



I should not have spoken so boldly on this subject, had I not 

 evidence under the hands of the first seeds-men in London to 

 confirm what I say. — It is common for improving gentlemen to 

 desire their seeds-men to send them such a mixture of grass seed 

 as will suit their soil. The order is instantly complied with, and 

 the list established by the bill. I answer for it, whoever consults 

 his bill for this list, will find many worthless grasses, of incom- 

 patible periods ; and that he will find tall oat grass, avena 

 elatior, recommended, and sent to him. 



Now tall oat grass is by far the most mischievous of the 

 squitch tribe; it has small bulbous roots like the crocus, and is 

 known in this country by the names of purl grass and knot 

 squitch ; it is reprobated by our farmers as one of our most 

 troublesome weeds. 



Such is the style of instruction we receive from the present 



agricultural 



