SHEEP GAINS ON GRASS 315 



has not been quite so effective, the average annual net gain for the 

 nine years being reduced from $5.34 to $4.32. It is evident that the 

 application of this amount of slag in a single dressing is likely to 

 give the best result in commencing the improvement of poor pasture 

 of this character; 10 cwt. slag gave 321 pounds live weight increase 

 per acre in the first three years after its application, whereas 5 cwt 

 slag gave only 132 pounds in the same time, considerably less than 

 half of the larger dressing. That a second application of slag may 

 be most effective is shown by the fact that for three years after the 

 first application of 5 cwt. slag the live weight increase amounted 

 to 132 pounds, while the same for three years after the second appli- 

 cation amounted to 284 pounds. The second application therefore 

 more than doubled the results. In the ninth season Plot 4 has given 

 an increase of 41 pounds in live weight per acre, as compared with 



33 pounds on Plot 3, which shows that although the net gain has 

 been the greater after the single dressing of slag, the unexhausted 

 residue is now the greater where half of it was withheld till three 

 years later. 5 cwt. slag increased the proportion (not total amount) 

 of clovers to the same extent in the first three years as did 10 cwt, 

 while in the first year after the second application of 5 cwt. slag, 

 the clovers amount to 32 per cent, and even in the ninth year (or 

 sixth after the second application of slag) to 17 per cent While 

 therefore the results on this plot have not been quite so good as 

 on Plot 3 the clover development has been greater and much better 

 maintained, 



