PREFACE VII 



sort suits different soils, and if a mixture is required, can 

 tell what kind of grass seeds will render that mixture bene- 

 ficial. For this useful purpose some degree of botanical 

 knowledge is necessary. Nature is ever constant and 

 uniform. She points out to us the plants peculiar to every 

 soil, if we could be prevailed upon to trace her along the 

 walks which she delights to tread ; and to welcome the 

 grasses which she scatters over our best feeding pastures. 



It is not unusual, to see a piece of rich and ill-manag- 

 ed land over-run with the coarsest grasses. In that state, it 

 cannot maintain a stock in proportion to the goodness of 

 the soil. Other lands of a much worse quality, being laid 

 down with a more judicious choice of seeds, are found to 

 be infinitely more productive. This consideration ought to 

 awaken the attention of the agticulturist to a more atten- 

 tive choice of seeds in laying down his land to pasture. 



At present, the farmer is liable to the imposition of the 

 seedsman. If he purchase the seeds of weeds, he must 

 expect a plentiful crop of them in return for the painful 

 care that he has taken of his land. 



But I have endeavoured to remove this inconvenience, 

 by giving specimens of eight of the best, and of two of 

 the worst sorts of natural grasses, with descriptions of each ; 



