viii PREFACE. 



break in the clouds is that ajEforded by the investigations 

 of Sir John B. Lawes, but those, while highly valuable, 

 are only directed to one branch of the subject, viz., to 

 the question of the effects and value of manures in 

 different combinations on the growth and character of 

 the grasses, &c. 



On the Continent of Europe and in North America, 

 on the other hand, there has been a great activity of 

 inquiry into those subjects. Dr. Stebler, of the Swiss 

 Governmental Seed Control Station, in his wonderfully 

 complete work on " The Best Forage Plants," makes 

 reference to an astounding number of works, published 

 in Germany alone, on the subject of the grasses ; and Dr. 

 Vasey, of the United States Department of Agriculture, 

 quotes a long list of works on the grasses of the United 

 States, some of which are treatises on the grasses of a 

 single State. The reports issued by the United States 

 Department of Agriculture afford evidence of much 

 valuable leading and assistance given to the cause of 

 agriculture (in particular to the subject of the grasses) in 

 the great Eepublic of the West ; and in Denmark the 

 agricultural schools and the Copenhagen seed-testing 

 station (subsidised by the Government) are centres of 

 activity and, investigation. The various German states 

 pay special attention to agriculture and forestry — some 

 of their seed-testing stations have been in operation for 

 almost half a century. The Swiss seed-testing station 

 and its superintendent. Dr. Stebler, are of more than 

 European reputation ; and Dr. Stebler's book on " The 

 Best Forage Plants," in the publication of which he was 

 assisted by his Government, is a monument as well of 

 scientific arrangement and accuracy as of profundity 

 and completeness of information. 



