bility of the laws of nature, we ought not, perhaps, to mrearenaetnt at 
his discovery of the extraordinary mutation in our northeastern boun- 
dary, since it was established by the fathers of our’ republic. Ibis is 
quite as likely that landmarks should change their locality, as that ob- 
jects of natural history should lose the distinctive characters impressed 
on them by the hand of the Creator.” The proportion which grasses 
' bear to other families of plants is next considered ; and we are informed 
that the grasses of Chester County, native, naturalized, and cultivated, 
‘amount to about one hundred species, or one-tenth of the whole number 
of flowering plants inhabiting the same district ; but, owing to the im- 
Mense number of individuals of many species, their proportion to the 
actual amount of vegetation is much higher. . Their peculiar places of 
growth, their general distribution throughout the world, and the partic- 
ular distribution of individuals, the limits and modifications of agricul- 
ture as produced by climate, or in some degree by national peculiar- 
ities and customs, are next considered; and to this follows a brief no- 
tice of the general. properties and uses of this tribe of plants, which, 
comparatively humble vas it AB esi: contributes, directly and in- 
y: comfort of the human 
tion.” We can cite | “In an agricul- 
tural point of view, the superior value of is pints as materials for 
GAA AMET ECR EE 8 saccharine w 
“source of that rich sweet odor observable in well preserved hay. ‘This 
saccharine matter, which pervades the’ whole plant before ‘flowering, 
and is most src fo elaborated at that epoch, is designed to bé ulti- 
mately concentrated and deposited in the seeds, chiefly in the form of 
farina ; and hence we find the herbage of: comparatively little value 
“after the” fruit is fully matured: ‘The skillful agriculturist, therefore, 
' eehanebch: the herbage of the grasses, i in supplying the erga 
domestic animals, and, indirectly, the animal portion of our own food. 
Iwill, however, mention those species which are deemed of chief value 
in our meadows and pastures,—naming them in what I consider the 
order of their excellence. 1, The meadow, or ay ee fase 
called Sine in Kentucky, (Poa pratensis, imothy, or 
the « re si on states, (Phleum pratense, Lj 
‘(Dactytis ita, L.)—4. Meadow Fescue, (Fes- 
