G R /\ S S. 



any tjroportion, niTglit tend to diminijh the value of the its merks compared with the otliers. However this may he, 



there appears to be no reafon for exchiding the others ; for 

 it would appear exceedingly improbable, that of upwards of 



a hundred graffes, taking the word grafs in its Itrift fenfc, 

 that are growing wild in this country, the Author of nature 

 fliould have creatc;d only one as fuitable to be cultivated for 



palhire. 



" Now, let any one refleft on the infinite diverfity thefe 

 few particulars may admit of, and think how utterly impol- 

 iible it is th;;t all the favoiu-able circunillances, without any 

 of thofe that are unfavourable, fhould concur in any one 



cafe, and he will acknowledge, that thofe who found their pafturage or fodder. Since this period, however, moft of 



hope of obtaining the moll valuable palhires only upon the the£fiatural graffLS have been cultivated for the purpofe of 



fortuitous concurrence of all thefe circumltances, or who affording feed, which may be procured genuine from many 



inian-ine that every pailure which is old nuill, on that ac- feedsmen in moft places. Taking it for granted then, that 



count, of necefPity be good.aft in direc\ contradiftion to the there are other graffes fuperior in many rcfpefts to the ray- 



plaineft dictates of reafon and conimon-fenfe. For, although it grafs, this quelHon naturally ariies — How comes it that they 



thould be allowed that the graiTes hitherto cultivated are not have not found their way into general ufe ? To this it may be 



of the moll proper fort for forming good paiUuvs, and that anfwered, improvements in any fcience, but more efpeciaily 



therefore, on fome occalions, much better natural pad nres in agriculture, are flow in their advances; and perhaps 



may be met with than could be forined by means of any of no clafs ot men adheres more pertinaciouily to old pre- 



thefe ; yet it by no means follows from thence, that if the judices than that of farmers, and the difficulty ©f 



farmer were perfecllv acquainted with the value and dillin- dillinguifliing tlie grades from each other has, too, no doubt, 



guilTiiiio- qualities of i-ich kind of natural grafs, and knew the proved one grand obilacle : many of tiiefe plants are fo 



foil and culture that bell agreed with it, the moil proper much alike, that the moil difeerning botaniil is often at a 



manner of rearing it, and every other particular relating to Uiis to knuw iome of them apai't : if fo, how eafily may the 



the economy thereof, he might not perhaps have it in his power luifbandman be deterred from the arduous talk ! There is 



to form artificial paftures as much excelling the natural as anotl^er caufe alfo which may have operated againll their 



thefe la'.l at prefent ufually exceeded the former. For were introduftion : graffes, as well as other plants, have been 



he i>ofrefred of the knowledge above fnppofcd, he could at frequently recommended from a parti;>.l and limited obfer- 



once fill the foil with the feeds of thofe Valuable graffes vation of them, by perfons who neitiier knew them well 



which he knew were bed adapted to it, and thus effeftually as botanills or agricultura-Hils, or who have rccom- 



excl'.ide the adniiihou of every uftlefs plant, or pernicious mended them, merely to gain by the credulity of the 



kind of grafs, that might be brought from the neighbouring public. But, perhaps, the chief reafon has been, that 



fields by the wind, or other accidental caufeS. perfons who might be expefted to make the improve. 



" Let us, therefore, inflead of contenting onrfelves on all mcuts, have not had the means fairly put into their hands to 



occafions with fuch paftures or grafs-Iand* as nature may af- make the experiment, there not having been any eafy iceans 



ford, rather iludy to improve tliofe that are indifferent, by of obtaining fuck forts of grafs-feeds as may be mofl fnit- 



cndeavouring to obtain a knowledge of fuch plants as might alile for the purpofe. It appears, however, that in the herbage 



afford the moft valuable pafture, and cultivating thefe with of good meadows, or grafs-lands, there ihould be a combina- 



affiduity and care. The inattention of the improving farmers tion of produce, balcablenel^, and early growth. The firll 



in Great Britain to this fubjeft has been truly ama/.ing. is, in moll cafes, the agriculturaliirs grand objeft — and no 



But it is hoped the attempts that have been made by fome wonder, fince it is the quantity chiefly which enables him to 



late writers may have the effedl of turning their attention to pay his rent, and fupport his cattle: to obtain this, the ju- 



a fubjeft of fuch great importance ; with regard to which, dicious luifbandman i'pares no expence in labour or manure; 



they will then doubtlefs make many valuable improve- But it does not follow that produce is to be attended to 



ments. It is, however, to be feared, that till fome attempt 

 fliall be made to nfcertain the particular qualities and pecu- 

 liarities of the different kinds of gi-afles, the public will be 

 often impofed upon by fpeeious accounts of new graffes, 

 which mav be really poffelfcd of few valuable qualities, and 

 mav very much tend to difeourage the inquirer. It is con- 



folely, or that, for its fake, we are to cultivate rough, cock's- 

 foot grafs, meadow-fweet, and fuch coarfe plants. Graffes 

 which have been recormuended for being remarkably grate- 

 ful to cattle, as the flieep's-fel'cue grafs, or for the iweet- 

 nefs of their foliage merely, if they are found to be defici- 

 ent in the grand article of produce, will never anfwer the 



feqneully neceflary, to ftrenuoufly endeavour to dilcover farmer's or gra/.ier's purpofe, fince to be a good meadow it 



what are the particular purpofes for which any one plant mull be productive. Cattle, in regard to food, doubtlefs 



could be deem.'d valuable, ajid in what refpefts it might be have their particular likings, though we cannot properly 



looked upon as of no value at all : For, as there is no plant judge of It, iu which it may be neceifary fometimcs to indulge 



that can be alike ufeful on all occafions, if we lofe fight of thci.- ; but this practice muft not be carried too far ; for as 



this moft neceifary difluitlion, it may often happen, that we the farmer cannot afford to feed his ploughmen on pigs and 



may attempt to rear a particular plant tor purpofe-. which it poultry, neither can he indulge his cattle in general with the 



was never ijtted to anfiver ; and our want of fuccefs in thefe finer or more delicate liay or herbage. By the bye, we do 



trials may fha^e it be entirely rejedted, even in cales for which not know but that the moll produiftive graffes may alfo be the 



it was extremely proper and beneficial. moft nutritious, or that cattle will not as eagerly eat the 



It is ftated that ray-grafs continues to be the only grafs herbage or hay made of the meadow fox-tail grafs, as of 



whofe feeds c;uj be purchafed for the purj ofe of laying the fine bent [agrojlis cap'illaris), and procumbent trefoil 



down meadow and pallure-land ; and how inadequate that {trifoliuin prociimbcns). Moreover, cattle are known fre- 



grafs is for fuch a purpofe is known to every intelligent quently to thrive on food to which they are habituated by 



farmer. Why indeed the loltitm perenne (ray or rye-grafs) neceflity, though at fii ft they could fcarcely be prevailtd en 



Ihould originally have been made ufe of in preference to all to touch it. Perfons, in making experiments, are very apt, 



the other graifcs, cannot, perhaps, be fatisfaftorily account- as has been already obferved, to conclude too haftily front 



ed for : moft probably it owes its int roduclion to accident, or the appearance which a plant alfumes on its being firft planted 



to its being a common grafs whofe feeds were eafily coUefted, or fown ; the moft infignlficant vegetable will often make a 



rather than to it's being preferred from any invelligation of great fhovv, when its fibres have ire fh earth to fhoot into; 



5 but 



