INTRODUCTORY DISCOURSE. 35 



pimpernel, foreign and perennial grasses, have been mentioned as highly 

 useful. Red clover and timothy are also exotics : but white clover is a 

 native pi int, and invariably follows cultivation. The avt-ua eh- tier, or 

 tall mt adow oats, was imported some years ago into Pennsylvania by 

 dr. Muhlenburg; and is recommended as the best grass for green i'odder 

 and hay. The festuca ovina, or sheep's test-lie, is preferred in Sweden 

 to all others for sheep. Gnir lin say*, that the tartars fix their tents 

 dnring the summer in those places where there is the greatest plenty of 

 thi irass. and that the sepulchral monuments of the ancient tartars are 

 mnstfv found where it abounds ; which shows that it has been long 

 valued by them. Stillingfleet says that it is found in abundance in 

 many parts of England and Wales. In the Hortus Elginensis, published 

 by a distinguished botanist,* it is mentioned as being in that esLvblish- 

 tn^nt ; and as a hardy perennial plant : it is a vernal grass, and not a 

 native of this country : I have mentioned it thus particularly because it 

 is so important a nutriment to sheep, of which it is believed we have 

 nearly two millions in this state. Wonderful qualities are ascribed to 

 th^ Guinea grass in Jamaica, and the fiorin f is highly commended as 

 surpassing all the grasses in its nutritious powers. (35) In selecting 

 the best foreign grasses for cultivation, we ought not to be unmindful ef 

 the* ? which nature has provided us at home. In the western parts of 

 this state there are several native grasses deserving of attention. 

 One -kind, called the winter grass, resists the effects of frost; and when 

 the snow leaves the ground in the spring, furnishes nourishing pasture. 

 Another species is stated to resist a dry season, and to be in full verdure 

 when all other plants are perishing with drought. A perennial plant, 

 called the wild pea, is said to be superior to clover as fodder ; to which 

 it is not only preferred as nourishment, but it has this advantage ; that 

 the stock is not so brittle, nor are the leaves sr. apt to pulverise. There 

 is a highly aromatic plant, collected by the Indians in small quantities, 

 called the Seneca grass. J(3/>) When n this subject it is proper to state, 

 that there are certain plants which are pernicious to some kinds of cat- 

 tle aod not to others for instance, the meadow-sweet wastes away 

 the cow but is beneficial to the goat : the long-leaved water hunlnck 

 will destroy a cow, whereas the goat browses on it greedily , monk's 

 hood kills the goat, but will not hurt a horse ; the andromeda, or dwaft 

 laurel, is very fatal to sheep ; and so is the kalmia latifolia, which is de- 

 voured with avidity by deer. 



Greater attention ought to be paid to the cultivation of our fruit ; and 

 to the destruction of those noxious insects and worms which have, with- 

 in a few years, injured it beyond measure. Our soil and climate are ad- 

 mirably adapted for some of the most delicious fruits. The Spitzenbrgh 

 apple is said to have been discovered accidentally in the vicinity of AI- 



* Dr. Hosack. f AgrostU Stolonifcra. { Holcus Fragrans. Spinsa Ulmaria. 



