54 Pasture Problems 



adjoining plot) but it usually works only slowly up to its maximum 

 contribution. On the average of all the figures obtained it would seem 

 to succeed as well under meadow as pasture conditions. Although this 

 plant will certainly come in naturally, it seems advantageous to include 

 it in mixtures especially on the poorer soils. The commercial seed 

 ensures a quicker development and will guarantee an appreciable con- 

 tribution to the first year's hay, 2 lbs. at 600' having given 5 % of the 

 total hay. 



Our observations and analyses do not agree with those of Carruthers(4) 

 with respect to this grass. We have found, when making our separations, 

 that the green herbage always shows evidence of having been grazed 

 by stock and we have also had evidence of differential grazing in favour 

 of this plant. On poor soils in the districts under review it is an 

 extremely valuable grass for both pastures and meadows. 



TrifoUum rejpens is a strong primary plant on the better soils and a 

 no less strong secondary plant on poorer soils when phosphatic manures 

 are freely employed. 



As an indigenous plant it does not usually come in very strongly 

 until the third year and then gains rapidly ; usually more rapidly under 

 pasture than meadow conditions. 



Evidence to show that any advantage is to be gained by including 

 the ordinary and expensive commercial seed in mixtures is very shght ; 

 Table II (no seeding) can show as good results as Table III (seeding). 

 Table V without seeding shows actually better results from three to 

 eight years than does Table VI with seeding. Two lbs. included in 

 the mixture (Table VIII) seems, however, to have given in the first 

 year better results than 1 lb. in the mixture. 



Trials are now being conducted with wild white clover in both North 

 and Mid Wales ; plots in Fhntshire already show that the wild white 

 has given better results in the first year than the ordinary commercial 

 seed. It would seem probable, from what has been said above, that 

 if phosphatic manures do not "bring" the indigenous plant, the ordinary 

 seed will not always materially assist matters, but that small seedings 

 of wild white are then essential^. 



TrifoUum, minus is a strong secondary plant on poor soils, but tends 

 to come in rather late ; and, since much of the commercial seed consists 

 of a high percentage of "hard" seed, it is not probable that sowing 

 can be rehed upon to materially hasten its appearance. 



1 Cf. Gilchrist (10) 



