and in the Stack in HaymaMng. 



43 



the 15th of April. A second cutting was made on the 28th of 

 April, a third May 12th, the fourth May 26, the fifth June 10th, 

 and the last June 30th. 



The whole produce of each cutting- was weighed at once in the 

 field, and at the same time a fair average sample was taken in 

 each instance for the determination of the amount of water, 

 albuminous compounds, and mineral matters (ash). 



My object in beginning to mow the clover so early in the 

 season was to ascertain incidentally whether eating off the young 

 clover early in spring, as is sometimes the practice on the 

 Cotteswold hills when spring food is scarce, was attended with 

 loss in food or not. But for this object there would have been 

 no use in mowing the clover so early in the season. 



On the 2nd plot, the first cutting was made on the 28th of 

 April, and was followed by other cuttings on the same dates as 

 those of plot 1. 



On plots 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 the clover was mown once, and 

 on the following dates. Plot 8 June 23rd, plot 9 June 30th, 

 plot 10 July 7th, plot 11 July 18, and on plot 12 July 28th. 



The experiments thus extended over a period of 3^ months, 

 and the periodical weighings and analyses of the different 

 mowings were made at intervals sufficiently numerous to bring 

 out with certainty any marked differences which were likely to 

 occur either in the quality or the quantity of the produce at 

 different times of the year. 



The results of these experiments are incorporated in the fol- 

 lowing Tables, showing the composition and weight of the 

 produce of each plot. 



In the first Table the composition in two parts is given both of 

 the fresh and dried clover at the 6 periods when it was mown. 



The second Table shows the actual weighings of the fresh 

 produce of each plot, the amount of dry matter contained therein, 

 and the chief food-constituents which compose the dry substance 

 of clover. 



In the third Table the preceding tabulated results are calculated 

 per acre, and in separate columns the amount of hay per acre is 

 also given, assuming the latter to contain 16 "7 per cent, of mois- 

 ture, which is a fair average proportion in dried good clover-hay. 

 The percentage of moisture in clover-hay, I may observe in 



