Introduction by the Editor. 



Of the 215 proper grasses which are capable of 

 being cultivated in this climate two only have been 

 employed to any extent for making artificial pastures, 

 rye grass and cock's foot grass ; and their application 

 for this purpose seems to have been rather the result 

 of accident, than of any proofs of their superiority 

 over other grasses. 



A knowledge of the comparative merits and 

 value of all the different species and varieties of grasses 

 cannot fail to be of the highest importance in practical 

 agriculture. The hope of obtaining this knowledge 

 was the motive that induced the Duke of Bedford to 

 institute this series of experiments. 



Spots of ground, each containing four square 

 feet, in the garden at Woburn Abbey, were enclosed 

 by boards in such a manner that there was no lateral 

 communication between the earth included by the 

 boards, and that of the garden. The soil was re- 

 moved in these inclosures, and new soils supplied ; 

 or mixture of soils were made in them, to furnish as 

 far as possible to the different grasses those soils which 

 seem most favourable to their growth ; a few varieties 

 being adopted for the purpose of ascertaining the 

 effect of different soils on the same plant. 



The grasses were either planted or sown, and 

 their produce cut and collected and dried, at the pro- 

 per seasons, in summer and autumn, by Mr, Sinclair, 



