p.11

405

Sinclair* informs us that twenty-two different species were found on
a single square foot of a rich ancient pasture in England. The superiority
of such pastures arises from the variety of different habits and
properties which exist in a numerous combination of different grasses.
From the beginning of spring till winter there is no month that is not
the peculiar season in which one or more grasses attain to the greatest
degree of perfection. Hence the comparatively never-failing supply of
nutritve [nutritive] herbage obtained from natural pastures, which it is vain to look
for in those artificially formed with one or two grasses only.

A large number of the wild grasses herein described, though not noted
as of any value to the agriculturist, are yet valuable in their way, inasmuch
as they help to make up the great mass of vegetable covering,
spread over the surface of the earth. They are all necessary in the great
purposes of nature.

It will be observed that a full list of synonyma, or the different names
by which each species of grass is or has been known and described, is
included. This will prevent much confusion that might otherwise occur,
and as has often been the case heretofore. If a writer speaks of Herd's-grass,
for instance, we must inquire whether he writes from Pennsylvania
or New York; if the former, he means agrostis vulgaris or red-top; if
from the latter State, he is to be understood as speaking of Phleum pratense
or timothy! So among botanists, new names have been occasionally
given to grasses that had been previously described and named. In such
cases the original name is to be restored and the new one is thrown
among the synonyms. It is therefore important to give all these different
names by which the same grass is known.

Besides the peculiarities pointed out by the botanist, by which grasses
are distinguished from other plants, there are others, detected by the aid
of chemistry. Silica, the element of sand and flint is found to exist in
the coating of the culms and in small masses or concretions in some
woody species. The chaff appears to be most abundantly supplied with
this earthy element; and its presence in all species of the grass family
heretofore analyzed shows the necessity of supplying silica to the soil

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* Hortus Gramineus Woburnensis, p. 235. - I am indebted to Dr. Benj. McVickar, of
Milwaukee, for the use of a copy of this rare and valuable work.