ON BOTANICAL COMPOSITION OF HERBAGE 



61 



These differences between the various centres are brought out 

 clearly in Table XXXII. 



At Latchingdon and Wendens clover has persisted on the un- 

 treated plots as far as can be ascertained ever since the fields went 

 down to grass. There are, moreover, no signs of the clover which 

 was encouraged by the application of slag five years ago tending to 

 'go off,' although, of course, it is subject to seasonal fluctuations. 



It will be noted that it is on the sour soils, and only the sour soils, 

 that the clover failed during the season of 1919. 



If, however, the results for the 1920 season are tabulated, as is 

 done in Table XXXIII, it will be seen that sourness is not the only 

 factor. 



TABLE XXXIII. BOTANICAL COMPOSITION OF THE HAY CROP BY 



WEIGHT ON PLOTS RECEIVING HIGH SOLUBLE BASIC SLAG. 



SEASON, 1920 



* At the rate of 35 cwts. of CaO per acre. 



t May 1st till Harvest. 



On the sour soils at Lambourne End and Martin's Hearne clover 

 forms more than 25 % of the crop, and it will be noted that a dressing 

 of lime in addition to the slag has not improved the position of the 

 clover at Martin's Hearne. It is, of course, quite possible that the 

 clover on this plot will benefit by the dressing of lime should another 

 unfavourable season succeed. 



The application of lime at Tysea Hill has not succeeded in bringing 

 a vigorous growth of clover even in a favourable season like 1920, 

 and it is quite clear that some other factor besides climate, lime and 

 phosphate is responsible for the failure of the clover plant. 



Chemically the soil at Tysea Hill differs from that at Martin's 

 Hearne in having a lower content of available potash, and it seems 



