APPENDIX E.—INDIGENOUS GRASSES OF BRITAIN. 193 
man or for other ends: hence arises the great utility of cultivation, 
not only of the various grains, but of grasses and other herbage for 
cattle. Even the ancients were well acquainted with the culture of 
grass crops: Virgil says, 
Vere fabis satio ; tum te quoque, medica, putres 
Accipiunt sulci; et mz/io venit annua cura 
Vid. Georg. 
In this enlightened age, when agriculture is become a regular 
science, and studied and practised as such by men of eminent 
abilities, especially in Britain, loose and speculative theories on 
agricultural subjects should have no place. Nothing can be 
admitted that is not founded on facts and experiments. Though 
many learned and excellent treatises have appeared, on the culture 
of indigenous and other grasses, yet much remains to be done, and 
much information is still wanted on this very interesting subject. 
In the present advanced state of botanical science in Britain, 
scarcely any one can be in danger of mistaking the species of the 
gramina used, or proposed to be used, in cultivation. With the 
writings of Drs Withering and Smith in one hand, and the figures 
of Curtis, Knap, &c. in the other, a moderate share of attention will 
enable any person to discriminate the ordinary grasses. Those 
grasses that are less known may be examined in the form of a 
hortus siccus, which can never fail to remove every doubt, as the 
gramina are peculiarly adapted for being preserved in the dry state. 
Even the seeds of the most eligible may be obtained in small 
quantities. 
In selecting the different species of grasses, suited to different 
soils and situations, nature is our sure guide. Who would hesitate 
to pronounce, that a plant found at the summit of the Highland 
alps, would be the most eligible for cultivation in high situations ? 
Who would question the success of a marsh plant in a wet boggy 
soil? Although some useful plants are said to grow in any soil or 
situation, yet we must always except such /abilats as are adverse 
to their nature. The pertinacity of some plants to their peculiar 
soil or situation, is much greater than is commonly supposed. Of 
this I shall adduce an instance or two. 
The Aira flexuosa’ prefers a dry barren soil. About twelve or 
fourteen years ago, I discovered a similar Aira near Forfar, the 
specific name of which might be AZra uliginosa, from its being always 
found in a wet marshy soil. Both this Azra and the A. flexuosa 
1 Waved mountain hair grass. 
N 
