40 



in .recent years, in the chalked and limed portions, 

 respectively, of the plots. In the case of selected plots, 

 generally 8 or 9, in 4 years, and once in second as well 

 as first crops, the dry matter, ash, and nitrogen have 

 been determined in the separated Gramineous, the 

 separated Leguminous, and the separated miscellaneous 

 herbage, of the mixed produce. 



In selected cases, the " woody-fibre" in a given con- 

 dition of induration, has been determined; and in 

 selected cases also, the proportion of the total nitrogen 

 existing as albuminoids has been determined. 



Complete analyses have been made of 145 selected 

 ashes, most of "mixed year" samples, some of second as 

 well as first crops, and some of the separated Gramineous, 

 Leguminous, and miscellaneous herbage. 



Besides the above-enumerated samples taken for 

 chemical investigation, very numerous samples have 

 been taken for determining the botanical composition of 

 the herbage. Thus, in each of the years 1862, 1867, 

 1872, and 1877, 20 or more samples were taken, and 

 submitted to complete botanical separation ; and for 

 each of these separations the aid of a special assistant 

 was obtained ; but the work involved that of one of the 

 Eothamsted staff, and a number of boys also. In 

 1871, 1874, and 1876, a few samples were taken for 

 partial separation only that is into total Gramineous, 

 total Leguminous, and total miscellaneous species ; and 

 in 1875, and in each year since 1877, from about 10 to 

 20 or more samples have been taken for such partial 

 separation ; all the partial separations being conducted 

 by one of the Eothamsted staff, assisted by a number of 

 boys. In some cases samples from second as well as 

 first crops have been operated upon. 



3. The Soils of the Mixed Herbage Plots. 



In the summer of 1870, which was a period of 

 drought, very variously affecting the herbage of the 

 different plots, samples were taken from 3 of the plo.ts, 

 in each case to the depth of 6 times 9 inches, or to a 



