ALL agriculturists, and every one interested in the grass 

 question, know that the value and habits of the various 

 components of our pastures can be but imperfectly 

 understood, if studied merely when the flowering stage 

 is reached. To obtain full and satisfactory knowledge, 

 knowledge applicable to various districts of our 

 country, the species must be followed individually 

 through their spring, summer, autumn, and winter life. 

 In the case of pasture grasses, this is only possible when 

 means other than the flower are used for purposes of 

 recognition. 



The difficulties connected with the identification of 

 grasses in the flowerless condition are not at all so 

 great as usually supposed. Practical experience shows 

 that leaf distinctions are more readily grasped and 

 understood than the characters of the minute flowers. 



The object of this book is to classify those leaf 

 characters which are most patent and most distinctive, 

 so that, at any season of the year, a grass growing in 

 a pasture may be readily determined on the spot, 

 by the agriculturist himself, without the aid of a 

 botanical expert. 



In the first part, the wants of the working farmer 

 are steadily kept in view, and common pasture grasses 



