224 THE LIFE AND WORK OF GEORGE DON. 
The genus Agrostis, or Bent-grass, is abundant. A Dr. Richardson 
of Ireland, has written strongly in favour of this family of grasses ; 
but from his publications, which I have of late fallen in with, it 
pretty evidently appears, that this writer knows not one family of 
grasses from another, far less is able to distinguish the different 
species of each family ; for his forin grass, as is evident from his 
own words, palpably includes every species and variety of British 
agrostis, with couchy roots, or trailing shoots; for he says that it 
grows in every bog or marsh, and in every soil and situation, from 
marshes to the tops of hills, and on heaths. How any one could 
suppose the fiorin grass to be exclusively the Agrostis stolonifera, 
I am at a loss to understand; for I had three specimens sent me 
from gentlemen, who had their plants from Dr. Richardson himself : 
one of them proved to be the Agrostis stolonifera, another the 
Agrostis vulgaris, and a third the Agrostis canina. Still more 
lately, I have received a dried specimen of the Fiorin grass, procured 
from Dr. Richardson’s own hands, and sent me from Ireland; and 
this proves to be another species, viz. Agrostis alba. This was 
nothing else than I would have expected, after reading the Doctor’s 
books. I may here observe, that I have never seen the Agrostis 
stolonifera on dry elevated pastures. Now, what is this celebrated 
fiorin grass of Dr. Richardson? It seems to be a mixture of all the 
tribe of couchy grasses, held equally in detestation by the farmers 
and their cattle; and we in Angusshire are apt to judge of the 
industry of the eee in proportion as he has eradicated these 
grasses, the abundance! of which tends so much to depreciate the 
value of the ground he possesses, In the west of England, the 
Agrostis stolonifera is held in equal detestation by the farmers, and 
stigmatized by the name of Black squitch. 
The agrostides are the worst to eradicate of any grasses I am 
acquainted with. Indeed, when they get possession of wettish clay 
soils, it is the next thing to impossible to get clear of them. 
_ I am bold to say, that if these grasses, so strongly recommended 
by Dr. Richardson, come really to be introduced among farmers, it 
will prove the greatest barrier in the way of improvement to 
agriculture that has ever yet taken place. But when a man like 
Dr. Richardson, who is plainly neither a botanist nor an 
agriculturist, comes forward with confidence, recommends to 
intelligent Scots farmers to lay down their arable fields with a 
grass which it has been their constant study through life to 
eradicate, the absurdity is so great, that there is reason to hope that 
little harm will ensue. The agrostides are grasses that totally 
