4 



PLAN OF THE WORK. 



In the Manual each grass has been dealt with in a uniform manner, and in 

 the following order : — 



1. Botanical name. 6. Botanical notes. 



2. Synonyms. 7. Value as a fodder. 



3. Vernacular names. 8. Other uses. 



4. Where figured. 9. Fungi found on the grass. 



5. Botanical description. 10. Habitat and range. 



These appear to me the most important points on which information is 

 likely to be required in a work of this kind. 



1. Botanical name. — The nomenclature followed has been that of Bentham's 

 Flora Australiensis. I hold the opinion that, except in the very rare instances 

 in which Bentham is actually wrong, this work should be loyally respected 

 as a standard of nomenclature of Australian plants. Until the time comes 

 for a second edition of the Flora, in which any necessary corrections can be 

 made, Bentham's work should be followed as closely as possible. The 

 numbering of the genera and species is that of the Flora Australiensis, so 

 that the present publication may be conveniently referred to while studying 

 the classic. The order of sequence of course indicates botanical affinity, 

 and an advantage will be that as additional species are discovered in the 

 Colony, notes in regard to them can readily be inserted in the text. 



2. Synonyms. — I have, under this head, noted where the name in Mueller's 

 Census differs from that of the Flora. I have, in a few cases, given, in addi- 

 tion, well-known names whether in the Census or not. In a few cases 

 obsolete names have been noted, only because under such names good plates 

 of grasses have been figured. 



3. Vernacular names. — Many of our grasses, not being specifically recog- 

 nised by Australians, have no common names. In a few cases names, 

 clumsy perhaps, have been coined for them. In regard to others, where 

 species are not endemic in Australia, the names under which they are known 

 in Europe, the United States, India, &c, are given as a matter of convenience. 



4. Where figured. — I have given the names of works where grasses have 

 been figured. "Where names have been given, the title of the illustrated 

 work referred to will be found under "Works consulted.," see page 5. 



It will be found that the references are to works which are for the most 

 part readily accessible to the people of this Colony. 



Some excellent figures of dissections of grass -flowers will be found at 

 plate 4 of Vasey's work; also Report of Secretary for Agriculture (U.S.A.), 

 for 1879, 1880. Admirable figures, illustrating the genera of grasses 

 (American), will be found on plates vii to xv of Gray's Manual of the 

 Botany of the Northern United States. 



5. Botanical description. — This is taken, both as regards genus and species, 

 from the Flora Australiensis, and, as a very general rule, word for word. 



6. Botanical notes. — Under this head will be found a few general notes, 

 which may perhaps be useful to the student, — notes which are not of an 

 economic character, and which do not form part of the plant description. 



7. Value as a fodder. — This is by far the most important value of a grass, 

 at all events in Australia. It will be observed that we have but imperfect 

 knowledge of the fodder-value of many of our grasses, and correspondence 

 is invited on subject. 



