CHEAT. 97 



the botanic description given above. It is a well known 

 axiom, that each order of grasses is maintained indefinite- 

 ly, though different species hybridize with each other. 

 Thus, for instance, many species of the Bromes may be cre- 

 ated by hybridization, and many species of wheat can be 

 generated from a like hybridization of Triticii ; but never 

 has there been, nor will there ever be, an instance in which 

 wheat can be changed into chess or blue grass. As easily 

 one as the other. The laws of nature forbid it, otherwise 

 there would soon be no regular order of vegetation, or in 

 point of fact, of animals, for one rule would govern" all, and 

 cows would mingle with horses, dogs with man, and lions 

 with hogs. 



Dr. Flint instituted some experiments as to the relative 

 value of cheat as a food, and with singular good sense se- 

 lected the only competent judges to determine the fact a 

 jury of cows. Being placed in a stable, they were fed in 

 the same manger with timothy and herds grass mixed, and 

 cheat. The hay was eaten and the cheat left. With swale 

 hay (a mixture of wild grasses and sedges, a very inferior 

 hay), the swale hay was eaten and the cheat left. With 

 reed canary grass (the most inferior hay of New England) 

 they were both eaten alike. With cheat and oat straw,- the 

 cheat was eaten first. 



With reed canary grass and hay, the hay was taken first. 



With reed canary grass and swale, the latter was selected. 



With reed canary and corn stalks, the latter were pre- 

 ferred. 



With cheat and millet, the millet was taken, cheat left. 



With cheat and corn-stalks, both were eaten alike. 



These experiments demonstrate its character as a food, as 

 being by no means commensurate with its character as a 

 pest. 





