220 TRANSACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS OF [Sess. lvi. 



species of grass that are most nutritious, and experiments are 

 now in progress to discover what are the best proportions in 

 which various seeds should be sown so as most completely 

 to occupy the ground and leave least room for weeds taking 

 possession of the soil. The management and manurial 

 treatment of grass so as to favour the best species and 

 discourage others is also receiving attention ; and inasmuch 

 as the answers to these questions will vary according to the 

 nature of the soil and climate, the purpose for which the 

 grass is grown, the number of years it is to be allowed to 

 lie, and many other considerations, it is evident that the 

 subject of grass cultivation is a very wide one, and only to a 

 very limited extent appropriate for discussion in this Society. 

 It seemed to me an important thing, from an agricultural 

 point of view, to study the rooting of grasses more carefully 

 than has been the custom hitherto, and I began an experi- 

 ment the summer before last with a simple object in view, 

 viz., to discover what proportion the underground structure 

 bore to the overground structure of the more important 

 grasses, to see -what was the special characters of their roots, 

 and, further, to see what part of the soil the various species 

 utilised in their search for nourishment. 



These questions have an important bearing upon agricul- 

 tural practice, for grasses are grown not only for the sake of 

 the food contained in their leaves and stems, but also for 

 the sake of the manurial value of their roots. In some 

 cases it is mainly for the sake of the amelioration of the 

 soil that land is laid down in grass, to " rest " as it is called. 

 After it has so rested for some years it is once more put 

 under the plough, and the accumulation of organic matter 

 due to the growth of grass roots provides suitable soil and 

 nourislnnent for the cereal crops which follow. Accordingly 

 it is of importance to know what are the grasses which make 

 the greatest amount of root growth in proportion to their 

 amount of leafage. On the other hand, where a soil is 

 thin and a hay crop is wanted, it is of service to know 

 what are the species of grass which yield the largest crop of 

 hay with the smallest demand for soil space. 



Another impoilant object to be attained by a more 

 thorough knowledge of the rooting of grasses is the more 

 complete utilisation of all the available area of the soil. It 



