8 BRITISH GRASSES. 



The group of grasses used for economic and industrial 

 purposes is comparatively insignificant, but by no means 

 unimportant when our attention ceases to be dazzled by 

 the greatness of the value of the cereal and fodder grasses. 

 In many rural districts their utility for thatch, fences, 

 building purposes, and domestic articles, is well attested, 

 and neither poor nor rich will despise their employment 

 in the straw-hat manufacture. 



Ornamental grasses form a very attractive group as 

 exhibited in our public gardens in the present day, and 

 though not able to lay claim to edible or industrial pro- 

 perties, they well deserve notice as the fine ladies and 

 gentlemen of the tribe. 



Thus we see that grasses have a charm for all classes, 

 — for the practical, the industrious, the philanthropist, 

 the man of science, and the man of taste, and to each 

 and all of these classes we commend our little work, in 

 the hope that they will receive it with indulgence, and 

 be induced to carry on the study of the great and good 

 family we invite them to, and by their deeper research 

 add greatly to our scanty stock of information. 



