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G Y. 
I N the remarks which accompany the following Specimens, the Author has purpofely omitted to bring 
forward any opinion tending to decide on the refpe&ive value of the Grades, as compared with each other; 
becaufe, although he might have produced the detail of a few experiments of his own, together with an opinion 
refulting therefrom ; and although he is aware that fome great names have given their verdid much in favour 
of fome of them, to the difadvantage of others, which probably might have been founded on experiments; yet, 
he apprehends, that l'uch experiments have not been fufhciently numerous, fufficiently extended, or fufficiently 
diversified, to juftify any decition of this kind, or to afeertain the real merits or demerits of any one 
of the Failure Grades. One Grafs may not be fo productive at one particular fcafon of the year as another Grafs 
maybe: But it may be more fo at another feafon when its produce may be of more value; it may bear the 
inclemency of the Winter or the drought of the Summer better; it may be better in quality, more nutritious, 
or more palatable; it may renew its leaves fooner after being cropped by cattle or cut with the fey the ; and may 
polfefs many other valuable properties which one or a few experiments will not enable us to determine upon. 
Again, another Grals may appear rough, and not fo delicate to the human eye or feeling, as many others, which 
yet may be quite as well adapted to the mafticating organs of animals, and may fuit their conftitutions, as a food, 
as well as, if not better than, the more tender and delicate ones. Well-conceivcd and well-executed experiments 
are wanting to afeertain thefe and many other points. And the Writer of this fincerely hopes that fueh experi¬ 
ments will at length take place; as he is convinced the refult of them, would be for the advantage of his Country. 
He will not take upon him to dired in what manner fuch experiments ought to he conduded. There are heads 
much better qualified for this purpole. And, indeed, Experimenters will be belt enabled to form their judgments 
from the procefs of their experiments. He will only juft hint, that, he apprehends the firft thing to be done, is, 
to obtain a feparate collection of the feeds of all the Pafture Graffes in confiderable quantity. Then to fow them 
lingly, and try them for a confiderable time, with a view to determine their different effeds in feeding and 
fattening the different kinds of cattle. Afterwards to join them in various combinations and various proportions, 
with, and without a mixture of other Plants, fuch as perennial trefoils, vetches, &c. 
Without farther extending this hint, he humbly hopes the pains he has taken in collecting, preparing and 
arranging thefe Specimens, may conduce to fome interefting experiments of this kind, and thus open the way 
for a general cultivation of all the mod valuable of our pafture Grades. And fhould this prove to be the cafe, he 
fhall be well fatisfied that his time and labour have not been mifemployed: Having long ago fubferibed to the 
opinion «* that whoever could make two ears of corn, or two blades of Grafs , to grow upon a fpot of ground 
“ where only one grew before, would deferve better of mankind, and do more cflential fervice to his country, 
“ than the whole race of Politicians put together.” 
Introductory to the obiervations which follow, the Author thinks it incumbent on him to apologize for the 
liberty he has taken in giving a new trivial name to one of thefe Grades, namely, the ftnaller Fcfcue. He is 
confcious that his very confined knowledge in the Science does by no means authorize him to take fuch liberty. 
But as this publication was chiefly intended for ties mYithmwi*, fuch as are not at prefent verfed in, and have 
no intention to addict themfelves hereafter to the general ftudy of Botany; with Readers of this defeription, 
it may be a lufiicient reafon for appropriating the epithets of larger and ftnaller to the only two Species of Fefcue 
which are here introduced, that this was done, the more ftrikingly to contraft the two, and by this means make 
them the eafier to be recolleded. And it may be fome excufe for the innovation even withfoa that our w 
firft Writers on Botany are by no means agreed in their determinations as to fpecies and varieties, particularly 
with refpeCl to the Graftes. 
The real fpecies of the Grades, it is prefumed, are not allowed by Botanifts of the prefent time to be nearly fo 
numerous as they have been reprefented by Writers of a fomewhat diftant date. A difference in foil and lituation 
will often occafion fo ftriking a difference in the appearance of thele Plants, as has, no doubt, been the caufe of 
determining many to be diftind fpecies, which in reality are only varieties. And perhaps an adventitious admix¬ 
ture of the Pollen from different fpecies may often produce hybridous plants, which might not uncommonly have 
deceived the Inveftigator. Nor is it to be wondered at, if this fhould very frequently happen amongft plants 
which are fo nearly allied, whofe generating organs are apparently fo fimilar, and which are fituated fo clofe 
together as the Grades generally are. It is rather wonderful, confidering thefe circumftances, that the real fpecies 
of the Graftes fhould have continued fo diftind as we find them; when it is well known what infinite and difiimi- 
lar varieties have been produced by fuch an admixture in feveral other fpecies of Plants. 
The Author has cultivated the Grafs which he calls the ftnaller Fefcue, on a fmall fcale, for a confiderable 
time. The firft feeds of it were obtained from the top of a wall; and he then fuppofed it to be the ovina. By 
cultivation it became of larger growth than in its original ftate; and the produce of repeated fowings at length 
accumulated the Stock of Seed which was lately advertiled for fale. And whoever has fown, or lhall hereafter 
low, any of that feed in different foils and fituations, will, he believes, find plants arifing from fuch fovving, 
which will agree in fpecific characters with thole attributed by Botanifts to be three fpecies of Feftuca termed 
the ovina, rubra , and duriufcula. 
That it is the Grarnen pratenfe panicula duriore laxa unatn partem fpeel ante of Ray, he has no doubt. 
Mr. Curtis, it is apprehended, would pronounce it to be the duriufcula. That Gentleman, in his preface to the 
firft Fafciculus of the Flora Londinenfis, announced the Feftuca duriufcula as intended to be given in the next; 
but it has not yet appeared; at leaft in the firft five Fafciculi, which are the only parts of the work that have 
come under the Author’s perufal. He would be happy to read the difquifitions of that penetrating Naturalift on 
the fubjed. 
t 
