PROFITABLE FARMING 57 



a luxuriant growth of both grasses and clovers, 

 improving both quantity and quality of hay, 

 followed by a distinctly increased and improved 

 aftermath. 



The Harper-Adams College have, for eight 

 years, conducted a very thorough series of 



au k i experiments at their farm on the 



Snropsnirs. , < j TM_ -i 



improvement of meadows. The soil 



is a stiff clay loam upon a bed of clay overlying 

 the red sandstone. The average yearly results 

 from the annual application of a complete manure 

 supplying 85 Ibs. water-soluble phosphate, 20 

 Ibs. nitrogen and 18 Ibs. potash per acre show a 

 gain of 16 cwt. hay, with an increased profit from 

 this alone of 175. 50!. per acre after paying for the 

 manure. It is stated in the College Report for 

 1910 : " The application of superphosphate 

 has given very marked increase in the crop. 

 Apart from the weight of hay, the most striking 

 feature of this set of trials has been the alteration 

 in the character of the herbage. On all plots 

 receiving superphosphate (water-soluble phos- 

 phate) the increase in leguminous plants was 

 most noticeable, and the improved value of 

 the herbage alone would compensate for the 

 outlay." 



Similar results are recorded in Oxfordshire, 

 where trials under the supervision of the 



County Staff Instructor in Agricul- 

 OxfordsWre. ture have been carried out on a 



variety of soils. A complete manure 

 was employed and handsome crop increases, 

 with great improvement in the herbage (clovers 

 and fine grasses), are recorded. 



