and in the Stack in Haymakinrj. 49 



than all the mowings together on plot 2, or, in dry substance, 

 almost exactly the same weight. The total yield of plot 3, 

 calculated per acre, amounted to 8 tons 13 cwt. and 64 lbs. of 

 fresh clover, which is 2 tons 2 cwt. and 96 lbs, more than the 

 total produce per acre on plot 2. 



Calculated as hay, plot 3 gave 2 tons and 95 lbs., whereas 

 the yield on plot 2, which was mown a fortnight earlier, was 

 only 1 ton 11 cwt. 45 lbs. Besides the loss in weight which takes 

 place when clover is grazed early in spring, or mown too soon, 

 the inferior character of the first mowings on plots 1 and 2 has to 

 be taken into account. Weight for weight, therefore, the produce 

 of plot 3 was more valuable than that of plots 1 and 2. 



On comparing the weight of the clover reaped on plot 4 (pp. 50, 

 51) on the 26th of May with that of the two cuttings made on plot 3 

 on the 12th and 26th of May, we find a very large accumulation 

 of organic matter has taken place by allowing the clover to grow 

 a fortnight longer before mowing it. The fresh clover on plot 3, 

 it will be seen, weighed 98 lbs. on the 12th of May, and 4|^ lbs. 

 on the 26th of May, which is 102jlbs. together, whilst the first 

 mowing on plot 4, made on the 26th of May, yielded 131 lbs. or 

 28j lbs. more. This increase in feeding materials is greater than 

 the mere weights of the fresh produce indicate, for on looking 

 at the composition of the first mowing of plot 3, it will be seen 

 that the clover contained 81 J per cent, of water, whilst the clover 

 cut on plot 4, a fortnight later, contained only 78/o per cent. ; 

 when due allowance is made for both these differences, it will be 

 found that the single mowing produced nearly one half more of 

 solid food than the double one. 



During the fortnight which elapsed between the 12th and 26th 

 of May, the clover appeared to come rapidly to perfection ; it 

 was then in full flower, and looked remarkably vigorous. 



In this period the assimilation of carbon through the medium 

 of the leaves or roots appears to be very great, for whilst sugar 

 and other carbon-hydrates are at this time abundantly produced, 

 little or no further accumulation of nitrogenous substances 

 appears to take place. In the case before us the two mowings 

 on plot 3 contained exactly as much nitrogen as the one mowing 

 on plot 4. Calculated per acre we find in the clover of the 12th 

 of May 72 lbs. of nitrogen, and in the second mowing on the 26th 

 of May 3"2 lbs. of nitrogen, or 75'2 lbs. in all — the identical 

 quantity of nitrogen which is contained in the much larger 

 weight of clover obtained on plot 4, by cutting it only once on 

 the 26th of May. At this stage of growth, as it seems, much 

 carbon is assimilated by the plant for the production of sugar 

 and other carbon-hydrates, which are serviceable in the animal 



VOL. III. — S. S. E 



