MANURING ENGLISH PASTURES 307 



even several years after application; in fact, these experiments in- 

 dicate that basic slag is really the best source of lime for this pur- 

 pose, and that it owes its good effects to the lime as well as the 

 phosphates that it contains. Half a ton of basic slag contains as 

 much lime partly free and partly in combination as is contained 

 in J4 ton f ground lime. The fineness of grinding of the slag un- 

 doubtedly increases the effectiveness of the lime as well as .of the 

 phosphates it contains. It is, therefore, suggested that for most 

 soils the use of basic slag makes the application of either common 

 lime or ground lime unnecessary for old land hay or for pasture. 

 It is only soils of a peaty character, or those with a good deal of 

 rough, matty herbage, or some organic matter, that are likely to give 

 a return from these forms of lime. Slag generally supplies the lime 

 requirements of all except this class of soils with more profitable 

 results. The results of some experiments elsewhere have indicated 

 that lime added to slag diminishes the good effects of this latter 

 manure. 



"The nitrogen-collecting effects of slag, or of slag and a potash 

 manure, are well illustrated by the results at Broomhaugh, where it 

 is shown that the amount of nitrogen collected per acre in the sur- 

 face 6" of soil in 13 years together with that contained in the extra 

 hay grown during that time, amounts to nearly as much as is con- 

 tained in 1 ton of nitrate of soda. It is also evident that this natural 

 supply of nitrogen has most beneficial effects in the soil, this being 

 a marked contrast to the effects of active nitrogenous manures. The 

 complex dressings of manures containing dissolved bones, bone- 

 meal, fish meal, slag, superphosphate, kainit, and a very little active 

 nitrogen have given excellent results on loam soils, but have not 

 done so well on stiff clay. These results are worth close attention, 

 as are also the uniformly good results with bonemeal and kainit 

 when continued for 11 years at three centres. When an old land 

 hayfield becomes matted with herbage on the surface, harrowing 

 with heavy harrows at the time the manures are applied is of great 

 benefit, to open up the surface. Tusser, in the sixteenth century, 

 in his 'Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry,' advises farmers 

 as follows: 



'In meadow or pasture (to grow the more fine), 

 Let campers* be camping in any of thine.' 



*Football players. 



