AGRICULTURAL GRASSES. 47 



his full attention to their study, and, assisted by his 

 highly intelligent gardener, proceeded to test the quali- 

 ties of all our British species, and of many foreign ones. 

 The better to succeed in this attempt, they procured 

 directions from Sir Humphry Davy for a simple test, 

 which, though less exact than the elaborate chemical 

 experiments now in vogue, answered their purpose suffi- 

 ciently. 



f( Submit the grass, in a green or dry state, to the 

 action of hot water, till all the soluble parts are taken 

 up. Then separate the liquor from the woody fibre of 

 the grass by means of blotting paper, and evaporate it 

 to dryness. The remaining solid matter is the nutritive 

 product of the grass/' 



Thus the great nobleman and his gardener, Sinclair, 

 began their course of observations and experiments, first 

 collecting all the natural grasses, then putting their 

 qualities to the test, and then proceeding to study the 

 cultivation of such as were recommended by their early 

 growth, abundant aftermath, or nutritive qualities. 



Mr. Sinclair writes of these grasses, and does so with 

 authority, for he had the honour of being the first to 

 design a grass garden. He formed one at Woburn, by 

 desire of the Duke of Bedford, and another at New 

 Cross for himself; and in these gardens they tried all 

 kinds of experiments with the various grasses then 

 known, the merits and qualities of which they tested 

 patiently and thoroughly. 



His plan was first to analyse the turf from various 

 pastures most highly approved by intelligent farmers, 

 and then to try to reproduce such turf by artificial 

 means in localities where the natural turf was inferior. 

 He soon arrived at the conviction that any failures to 



