CONCLUSIONS 187 



whole more favourable to the leguminous plants, it is not easy 

 to trace any connection between the weather, as judged from 

 the meteorological records, and the character of the crop, since 

 so much depends upon the frequency of the rainfalls and the 

 relative predominance of particular species when the most 

 favourable period for growth sets in. In a dry spring the 

 plots receiving nitrate have a great advantage over those 

 receiving ammonium-salts, but this is due to the deep-rooted 

 herbage they carry, rather than to any direct effect of the 

 manure used. As regards rainfall, the critical months are 

 April and May : the rainfall of March appears to affect the 

 crop but little. 



PRACTICAL CONCLUSIONS 



1. It is better to lay up the same land for hay each year, 

 grazing the aftermath only, and, in the same way, always to 

 graze other land, rather than graze and hay in alternate years. 

 In this way we obtain the fullest development of those grasses 

 and clovers which are suited to haying and grazing 

 respectively. 



2. For the same reason the system of manuring once 

 adopted should be varied as little as possible, for even manures 

 as similar as nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia encourage 

 different kinds of grass. 



3. On poor land any large expenditure on manures will be 

 wasted ; the character of the herbage must be slowly reformed ; 

 a full manuring is only utilised when there are plenty of strong 

 and vigorous grasses or clovers among the vegetation. 



4. Land which is growing hay requires a manure which is 

 mainly nitrogenous, whilst pasture requires a mineral 

 manuring. 



5. On strong loams, with a good mixed herbage, a dressing 

 of 10 to 15 tons of farmyard manure should be given every 

 fifth year. In the other years a winter manuring (January 

 or February) of 2 cwt. per acre of superphosphate (basic slag 

 on strong clay soils), and 3 cwt. of kainit, with 1J cwt. 



