IMPROVEMENT OF GRASS LAND 147 



manure had been used. The character of the hay 

 upon it may be judged when it is observed that 45 per 

 cent of the herbage consisted of Yorkshire Fog, and 

 52 per cent of False Oat Grass and Meadow Foxtail. 



With a phosphate-potash-nitrate of soda manure the 

 result has been better than with the phosphate-potash- 

 ammonium manure. Not only were the deeper- rooted 

 plants encouraged, but the herbage was more varied, 

 and the percentage of leguminous- plants was higher. 

 On the plot to which nitrate of soda = 86 Ib. of nitro- 

 gen was applied, 23 per cent of the herbage consisted 

 (1903) of Soft Brome Grass, and 10 per cent of 

 Beaked Parsley. 



The effect of lime was striking. On three plots, with 

 varying artificials, there was a considerable increase in 

 crop on the average of the first crops for three years. 

 There was, however, " a great increase in the propor- 

 tion of leguminous plants," the proportion on the three 

 plots rising from n, 22, and 3, to 20, 42, and 35 per 

 cent respectively. The differences in the action of the 

 lime were found to be due to the previous manuring 

 of the respective plots. On a plot which had only 

 received ammonium salts, and the herbage of which, as 

 already stated, contained 15 per cent of Sorrel, a strip 

 dressed with chalk in 1883 and 1887 was free .from 

 Sorrel. All grass land should receive an occasional 

 dressing of lime, say 10 cwt., every three to five 

 years. 



In changing the artificials from ammonium salts to 

 minerals, the immediate result* was a great diminution 

 in weeds and an increase in grasses, followed by a 

 steady increase in leguminous plants and a correspond- 

 ing decrease in grasses. 



A change from nitrate of soda to mineral fertilisers 

 had a similar result ; but the change was even more 



