204 THE LIFE AND WORK OF GEORGE DON. 
grasses, especially of the rarer kinds. To remedy this, I would 
gladly exert my utmost endeavours to cultivate a moderate quantity 
of seeds annually; and I might also institute a variety of experi- 
ments on grasses and other plants for feeding cattle; which I 
flatter myself, would contribute to the advancement of that branch 
of agriculture in this country :—and this I would be the better 
enabled to do, were I to execute my plan under the auspices, and 
with the pecuniary support, of the honourable Society to whom this 
paper is addressed, so distinguished for their patriotic and well- 
directed exertions. 
APPENDIX. 
On some INDIGENOUS PLANTS AND GRASSES wot ELIGIBLE 
FOR CULTIVATION. 
After perusing the foregoing paper, it may be alleged that I have 
omitted to mention several plants and grasses, which from their 
size and appearance, seem eminently adapted for cultivation. To 
obviate such remarks is my present intention; the more especially 
as it appears as necessary to inform the cultivator what plants he 
should avoid, as to point out to him those which he should select. 
In my humble apprehension, there are two requisites indispens- 
ably necessary to every indigenous plant to be tried in cultivation. 
1. It must be acceptable to cattle: 
2. It must produce a tolerably abundant crop. 
There are few persons who would blame me for rejecting those 
plants on which cattle do not feed; yet many theoretical writers 
have proposed plants for cultivation, against which this objection 
may be fairly urged 
To begin with the gramina.—-In the genus Aira, (with the excep- 
tion of the A. aquatica’, which seems the connecting link between the 
Poa and Aira) there are almost none that can be reckoned valuable. 
The A. caryophyllea*, precox*, and canescens, are all diminutive 
grasses; the flexuosa® is not equal to the Festuca ovina. The A 
cespttosa® is indeed the largest grass that appears as a native of 
1 Water Hair grass. ? Silver Hair grass. 
* Early Hair grass. * Gray Hair grass. 
*° Waved Mountain Hair grass. ® Turfy Hair grass. 
