26 



THE PARK 



diversified, and there is not the total absence of leguminous plants which 

 marks the plots receiving ammonium-salts. Two characteristic plants, 

 Soft Brome Grass and Beaked Parsley, are found only on the plots 

 receiving nitrate of soda, the corresponding umbelliferous plant where 

 ammonium-salts are used being the Earth Nut (Conopodium). 



On Plot 11 the same mineral manures are applied with an extra 

 amount of ammonium-salts, so that the nitrogenous manuring is excessive. 

 As a result the vegetation consists entirely of tufts of three coarse grasses 

 — Meadow Foxtail, Yorkshire Fog, and Tall Oat Grass. The soil has 

 also become sour and unhealthy, with the result that the plant is dying in 

 patches, except on the upper portion of the plot where lime has been 

 applied, and on the half numbered 11-2 where the silicate of soda is 

 used. 



The effect of omitting potash from the complete manure is seen on 

 Plot 10, and again on Plot 4-2, where superphosphate and ammonium- 

 salts only are applied. It is noticeable that the grass on these plots is 

 weak in the straw and liable to fungoid attacks. 



Effect of Lime. 



In November 1883 each plot was divided longitudinally, and upon 

 the western half of each 2000 lb. per acre of fresh burnt lime (slacked) 

 was applied, and in November 1887 the eastern half of most of the 

 plots also received 2000 lb. per acre. Plot 5, however, received none, 

 and the western portion of Plots 11-1 and 11-2, which had received the 

 lime in 1883, in 1887 received 2000 lb. per acre more, while the eastern 



ROTHAMSTED PARK HAY— FIRST CROP 

 Table XIII. — Pi-oduce per acre on the urdivied aivd limed jyortions of the plots. 



half, which received none in 1HS3, then (1887) received 4000 lb. per acre. 

 In December 1896, the eastern half of Plot 5 which had not pre\nously 

 received any lime, received 4000 lb. per acre of freshly burnt lime 



