40 



THE ESSEX EXPERIMENTS 



and, through the courtesy of Dr Stead, a small quantity of two open 

 hearth slags from the same Steel Works, but of widely different 

 solubilities. 



It was therefore decided to start a new experimental centre in 

 order that a fair comparison between the different phosphates might 

 be secured. The size of the plots was one-quarter acre, and the usual 

 dressing of 200 Ibs. P 2 O 5 per acre was given of the various phosphates. 

 The plots have received no further treatment. 



TABLE XVIII. WEIGHT OF HAY AT BUTCHER'S FARM, 

 LAMBOURNE END 



Manures sown: January 4th, 1919 



* Plots 7 and 8 - 



of an acre. 



The condition of the meadow was very different from that of the 

 other centres. Instead of a bare open surface as at Horndon, the 

 surface was covered with a thick matted turf. Down to a depth of 

 about 12 inches the soil was of a fibrous peaty character, and although 

 it rested on a London clay sub-soil, the first 9 or 12 inches of soil 

 resembled a sour peat soil. Scarcely a trace of leguminous plants 

 has been visible on the untreated plot throughout, the hay consisting 

 largely of water grasses and the type of weeds characteristic of sour 

 soils. 



The soil, as will be seen in Table VII, was very deficient in total 

 and available phosphoric acid, it contained no calcium carbonate, 



