Field Experiments on Clover-Seeds. 479 



better than two. A third unmanured portion, left in the middle 

 of the several manured plots, will do much towards manifesting 

 the natural variations in the trial-ground, and greatly diminish 

 the chances of error. 



The soil of the field on which the preceding experiments 

 were tried was a strong loam resting on clayey subsoil, and 

 adapted for the growth of seeds ; for it will be seen that, not- 

 withstanding the dryness of the season, the crop on the un- 

 manured portion of the field was by no means a bad one. 



The latter part of the summer of 1864, it will be remembered, 

 in many places was much drier than the earlier part. It was 

 intended to weigh the aftermath as well as the first cuttings on 

 each plot ; but it was such a complete failure as not to be worth 

 cutting. 



Mr. Wilson kindly furnished me with the following notes 

 which he took on the field during the progress of the expe- 

 riments. 



During -May and June Plot 1 (nitrate of soda), 9 (superphos- 

 phate and nitrate of soda), and 10 (superphosphate and muriate 

 of potash), were decidedly above the rest, especially Plot 1. 



Plot 1. — The rye-grass was very luxuriant, having come away 

 early, and Avith it a considerable portion of shaken wheat from 

 the previous crop ; clover was about an average mixture. 



Plot 2 (sulphate of ammonia). Rye-grass and shaken wheat 

 very gross ; clover an average plant. 



Plot 3 (mineral superphosphate). — A most perfect and clean 

 crop of clover, with a very small mixture of rye-grass, which 

 appeared weakly, none of it coming away till late in the season. 



Plot 4 (common salt). Very little clover, and rye-grass very 

 puny and weak. 



Plot 5 (left unmanured). — Crop very similar to that on Plot 4. 



Plot 6 (muriate of potash). — A very fair mixture of clover and 

 rye-grass ; the crop, on the whole, quite an average for the year. 

 Amongst the clovers there was a good deal of white clover, and 

 there w^as also a good deal of shaken wheat. 



Plot 7 (sulphate of potash). — Crop very similar to that on the 

 preceding plot, showing a good deal of white clover and shaken 

 wheat ; plant somewhat more regular than on Plot 6. 



Plot 8 (sulphate of lime). — Clover better than on Plot 7 ; rye- 

 grass superior, the general crop slightly heavier. 



Plot 9 (mineral superphosphate and nitrate of soda). — A fair 

 crop of clover, with an enormously gross mixture of rye-grass, 

 shaken wheat, and a great many thistles, which were scarcely 

 visible in the other plots ; the rye-grass and wheat were of an 

 immense height. 



VOL. II. — S. S. 2 I 



