PREFACE. 



Agriculture is an art that renders those who understand it rich, but leaves those who do not 

 understand it, however much they may labour in it, to live in poverty— Xenofhon, 434-355, B.C. 



When we consider that about one-third of the improved land 

 in Canada is under fodder and forage crops, the importance of dis- 

 seminating information respecting fodder and pasture plants must 

 be apparent to all. That the interest taken in these plants really is 

 very great is amply illustrated by the numerous inquiries that have 

 been received during recent years by the Department of Agriculture. 



It is, therefore, the purpose of this book to provide, in a form 

 convenient for reference, fairly comprehensive information about 

 those grasses, clovers and other fodder and pasture plants that are 

 generally acknowledged to be of value in Canada. The introduction 

 into Canada from time to time of different fodder and pasture plants 

 which are of more or less importance in different parts of Europe 

 has induced the authors also to deal with a number of plants that 

 are not as yet well known in Canada, but for some reason or other 

 might prove in future to be of general or local value. 



The aim of the book being to present only well-established facts 

 and practices, no attempt has been made to advance or support new 

 or questionable ideas or theories. It has been the endeavour to 

 bring together only a summary of authentic information that may 

 prove interesting and helpful to farmers, students of agriculture and 

 others who may be interested in the development of the vast agricul- 

 tural resources of Canada. 



As the book has been written with the intention to make its 

 contents intelligible to all classes of readers, the use of technical 

 terms has been avoided as much as possible. It has, however, been 

 found necessary to append a glossary in which technical or semi- 

 technical terms contained in the text are listed. 



