( m ) 
LECTURE V. 
On the Grajfes* 
Having proceeded regularly through the 
Claries, Genera, and Orders, with their dif- 
ferent fubdivifions, the young botanift will 
find fome affiftance neceflary in the ftudy of 
the graminiferous tribe of vegetables. This 
elegant aflemblage of plants requires a pecu- 
liar mode of inveftigation ; but that mode 
well underftood, and the method of accu- 
rately duTecting them adopted, it will not be 
found difficult to obtain a competent know- 
ledge of their ftructure. The term Grafs, as 
it is vulgarly u fed, conveys only a vague idea; 
and a common obferver is furrounded in his 
walks by a variety of fpecies, while he is not 
confcious of the precife exiftence of a fingl'e in- 
dividual. It is only of late years that this ufe- 
ful and .curious tribe of plants has been attended 
to ; fo that the knowledge of the moll: com- 
mon and valuable vegetables of the creation 
is yet in it's infancy. They have been con- 
founded under one common name in general, 
P z and 
