IV 



gee there were not quite 200 pounds per head, showing that, per capita, the 

 people of Tennessee produced only one-seventh as much hay as the aver- 

 erage production of the people throughout the United States. 



This is to be regretted, for the world over, agricultural prosperity 

 may be measured by the amount of land set in permanent meadows and 

 pastures. 



Believing that the tendency of the farmers of our State is to decrease 

 the amount of land devoted to cultivated crops, and to increase the acre- 

 age in grass, I have felt that some practical treatise on the management 

 of the grasses would have a great tendency to stimulate the movement in 

 this 'direction. To meet this want, this work was prepared. In its prepa- 

 ration I have had the aid of Prof. Nicholson, of the East Tennessee Uni- 

 versity ; of Dr. Gattinger, of Nashville, one of the most accomplished 

 botanists in the South, who has devoted the leisure of many years to the 

 study of the flora of Tennessee ; and of Dr. W. M. Clarke, who has kindly 

 assisted me in preparing the work for the press. The substantial and 

 ready assistance which these gentlemen have rendered, fully entitles them 

 to share with me in the authorship of the work. I am also indebted to 

 many other gentlemen in various parts of the State, whose contributions 

 will be found scattered throughout the work. 



I trust you will pardon me, Governor, for adding, that to no one am I 

 more indebted than to yourself. In discharging the long line of duties de- 

 volving upon me by my office, I have been constantly sustained by your 

 gentle encouragement and assisted by your judicious advice. I am sure 

 I utter a truth when I say that no one now takes, or heretofore has ever 

 taken, a deeper or more lively interest in the agricultural prosperity, men- 

 tal progress and mineral development of the State than yourself. 

 I have the honor to be, 



Your obedient servant, 



J. B. KILLEBREW. 

 March 12, 1878. 



