78 
J£l an acre, which was irrigated, and had remarked the changes in the 
comparative number and bulk of various species caused by irrigation. 
Good . . 7 
Middling . . 10 
Bad . . 17 
Commencement. After 2 yean 
16 
6 
After 4 years. 
25 
2 
The above statement was not to be taken as absolutely correct, for it was 
a very difficult thing entirely to kill and extirpate a grass. With respect 
to the species indicative of different kinds of soil, 
About 40 species were found in . . bushes, jungles, &c. 
,, 10 . . aquatic situations. 
,, 14 „ „ . . by the sea side. 
„ 35 „ „ . . meadow land. 
23 „ „ . . arable land & as weeds. 
All these species, according to their number, and the comparative well or 
ill-doing of each, would point out the exact condition in which any given 
field, or other piece of land, might be. The same species would frequently 
vary so much in size, that specimens of the two extremes were considered 
as distinct species, e. g., among the Fescues, Festuca loliacea, and F. 
loliacea var. pratensis. 
Professor Buckman concluded his discourse by commending the study 
of these beautiful plants to the members generally, and especially to the 
ladies, whom he begged to look at them occasionally, as more beautifully 
varied forms did not exist ; they were well worth the botanist's attention 
also, as they really were not that difficult tribe of plants that they were 
usually considered to be — and he considered that any proprietors of land 
would be very fortunate if they profited by all the lessons which the grasses 
were capable of teaching them. 
The President, in inviting discussion, remarked upon the philosophical 
manner in which Prof. Buekman had handled his subject. 
Mr. James Phillips enquired why, when sheep were folded on a 
piece of land, the good species as well as the bad were not trodden down, 
and thus both killed ? 
Prof. Buckman admitted that, to some extent, they would be, but that 
by the treading-in, &c, of animals, the ground would be made so much 
richer that the bad grasses would scarcely grow, while the good ones 
would nourish. 
Mr. A. Leipnek thanked the speaker for his address, and for having 
given the Botanical Section a good subject to work upon, referring to the 
fact that on a former excursion to Avonrr.outh, Prof. Buckman had 
gathered 40 species of grass, showing this neighbourhood to be compa- 
ratively rich in them. As a practical Botanist, he wished to ask what 
other parts besides the ligule were least variable, and most useful for the 
determination of species ? 
