40 MINUTES OF 



On Natural Grasses. 



Hence it appears, that a plant of grass consists not only of a tuft of leaves 

 surrounding tie root, but that the three or four lower joints of the stem, as of a 

 wheat-straw, are so many successive leaf-buds, which are generated by the cau- 

 dex of the leaf, which surrounds each joint, and precede the flower-bud at the 

 summit ; and that hence with the design of producing much herbage for cattle, 

 the propagation of new leaves from the root is principally to be attended to; but 

 with tlie design of producing hay, or Avinter fodder, the leaf-buds of the stem aie 

 principally y^^^pe attended tp. 



For the former of these purposes the stem of grass should be eaten close down 

 as soon as it rises; whence more grass leaves will arise from the root; as is well 

 known to those who eat down the first stem of wheat, when it is too luxuriant. 

 For the second purpose the leaf-buds, which constitute the stems of grass, should 

 be cut down, before the flower-stem at the summit has begun to ripen its seeds; 

 as at that time the sweet juice lodged in the joint below the flower-stem becomes 

 expended in the seed ; and the stem becomes converted into straw rather than 



into hay. 



From hence it is readily understood, why those pastures, which are perpetual- 

 ly grazed, are so much thicker or closer crowded with glass roots than those 

 which are mowed annually 



That some of our meadow and pasture land may be rendered infinitely more 

 valuable than they are at present, by the introduction of some of the best natural 

 grasses, is an opinion which has long prevailed among the more enlightened 

 agriculturists of the present age. And while some of those have endeavoured to 

 excite the husbandman to collect and cultivate seeds of this sort, by writings 

 fraught with the soundest reasoning ; others have attempted to attract him by the 

 offers of well directed premiums. But hitherto, neither the writings of the one, 

 however convincing, nor, the premiums of the other, however alluring, have been 

 productive of the desired effect. 



The difficulty of distinguishing the grasses from one another, has no doubt 



