GRASS-LAND AND ARABLE 129 



all quickly unless the seed is included in the mixture 

 in the first instance, although after a lapse of a num- 

 ber of years it will, if then introduced, even in the 

 smallest amount, overrun fields that are continually 

 used as meadows. 



The foregoing facts should teach a very important 

 lesson, namely, in drawing up a mixture it is im- 

 portant to make a close study of the older pastures of 

 a district, in order to ascertain what are the valuable 

 herbage plants that chiefly contribute to the sward. 

 This will form a basis of plants that it is desirable 

 to introduce, plants which may be regarded as being 

 locally indigenous. As I have already pointed out, 

 however, it by no means follows that sowing the com- 

 mercial seed of these species will produce the desired 

 results. 



We have two facts to direct our further enquiries, 

 namely, the proved success of Wild White Clover 

 and that in many districts the seed of Chilian Red 

 Clover produces tender plants of short duration. 



It seems evident, therefore, that in the case of the 

 vast majority of our herbage plants something more 

 than the selection of species as such is desired, and 

 that the place of origin of the seed is also impor- 

 tant; but is this place of origin a simple factor or 

 is it interwoven with the difficult question of sub- 

 species and sub-varieties? That it is not a simple 

 factor is suggested by a number of considerations 

 for instance, by the difference between Cocksfoot 

 obtained from New Zealand and from Denmark. 

 Professor Gilchrist has shown that New Zealand 

 Cocksfoot produces a bigger and more bulky plant 

 than the seed from Denmark, a plant therefore more 

 suitable for temporary leys, and observations I have 

 made in Staffordshire tend to confirm this. For my 

 own part, I am driven to the conclusion that we shall 



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