42 ' Changes which take place in the Field 



crops is the period wlien the grasses or clovers have just done 

 flowering, and the lower parts of the stems show signs of drying 

 up. The precise date at which grass should be cut, of course, 

 will vary according to climate, season, soil, and manures em- 

 ployed ; neither is it possible to describe intelligibly the appear- 

 ance of the crop when it thus attains maturity. However, hay- 

 crops are frequently seen in the fields which might with advantage 

 have been cut down a week or fortnight earlier, and occasionally 

 others are gathered in too soon ; though a single week's differ- 

 ence in the time of cutting may affect very materially both the 

 quality and the quantity of the produce. With a view to obtaining 

 some reliable data, calculated to throw light on the loss which 

 farmers sometimes unconsciously sustain by beginning the hay- 

 harvest either too early or too late, I tried a series of experiments, 

 some years ago, at the Agricultural College, Cirencester, when 

 a favourable opportunity presented itself in a remarkably even 

 and good clover-field resting on the great oolite formation. The 

 land was level and in a good agricultural condition, the clover 

 was equally thick throughout the field, as far as could be judged 

 by the eye, and grew luxuriantly. 



The analysis of the soil and subsoil gave the following 

 results : — 



Composition of Experimental Clover-field. 

 Surface Soil. 



Moisture (when analysed) 1*49 



Organic matter and water of comLination .. 11-80 



Oxides of iron and ahnuina 15*82 



Carbonate of lime lO'oT 



Alcalies and magnesia -64 



Insoluble silicious matter (clay) 59'S8 



100-00 

 Clay-subsoil. 



Moisture (when analysed) 13-40 



Oxides of iron and alumina 17-01 



Carbonate of lime 7-05 



Magnesia "60 



Sulphate of lime '56 



Potash and soda 1-06 



Insoluble silicious matter (clay) GO'32 



100-00 



The analysis, I need hardly say, is not a complete one, and is 

 merely given here in order to show that the clover grew on a 

 good calcareous clay-soil, which was Avell suited for the crop. 



Part of the field where the growth was most even was set 

 apart for experiment, and accurately divided into 12 plots, each 

 measuring exactly 1 pole (16^ feet square). 



The clover on plot 1 was mown for the first time as early as 



