IV 



cropped close each of these little plants may flower ; so that it will be at 

 once seen how countless is the number of grass-plants in even one small 

 paddock. As the value of the paddock for grazing depends on the kinds 

 these little grass-plants are, it will be seen how- desirable it is to set about 

 improving the various kinds, for. when we change a grass we do it as regards 

 miUions of plants. 



Just as florists' flowers and vegetables have been vastly improved by selec- 

 tion of seed and improved methods of cultivation on the part of the gardener, 

 so as regards grasses (though not to the same extent perhaps, but who can 

 tell?), we look forward to improvements of paddocks not only by substi- 

 tuting good for inferior species, but we hope to be able to vastly increase the 

 value (from the point of view of the farmer and pastoralist), of existing species. 

 Many of us are apt to look upon grasses as the very embodiment of a stationary 

 thing, as containing a fixed and definite quantity of nutriment for stock, 

 incapable of improvement, an idea which, if persistently held, will be a bar 

 to all improvement. 



I desire to thank Messrs. Ernst Betche and William Forsyth for the 

 patient care with which they have assisted me to revise the proofs. 



