260 



E. PARKE and B. DYER. Manuring of Grass land. (Expts. at 

 Kineton, Warwickshire, 1909). The Journal of the Board of 

 Agriculture. October 1909, Vol. XVI, N. 7. pag. 591. 



" Experiments have been carried out at Kineton since 1901 

 by Mr. Ernest Parke, J. P., with the co-operation of Dr. Ber- 

 nard Dyer. 



When this land was first taken over by Mr. Parke it was in 

 very poor condition owing to long-continued neglect as regards ma- 

 nuring. The fields selected in 1901 for these grass experiments 

 had then been down in grass for about ten years. The soil of 

 both fields consisted of clay containing only a small admixture of 

 sand, and may perhaps be best described as " heavy clay loam. " 



On analysis both soils were found to be very poor in available 

 phosphoric acid. The soil of one of the fields (" Upper Hale ") 

 contained a smaller proportion of lime than that of the other (" Five 

 and Three Acres "), and it was accordingly decided to use basic 

 slag as a phosphatic manure for " Upper Hale " and superphosphate 

 for " Five and Three Acres. " Analysis indicated that both soils 

 contained a sufficient quantity of natural potash, but nevertheless 

 portions of the experimental area were marked out for treatment 

 with potash salts. The analytical indications were borne out by 

 the fact that while phosphates have produced a large increase of 

 hay, potash salts have thus far had but a small effect on either of 

 these fields, although in other trials potash salts have proved very 

 valuable in improving both the yield and the composition of the hay. 



The results of the first eight years' experiments are summarised 

 below. The natural yield of the land may be seen from the quan- 

 tity of hay yielded by a portion of each field which has been left 

 continuously unmanured. The yield of the unmanured land is 

 tending to increase slightly but steadily year by year, by reason 

 of the fact that, after hay harvest, the whole of the plots are 

 thrown open to autumn grazing with the rest of the field. Under 

 these conditions the unmanured plots share to some extent the 

 indirect manurial advantage of the consumption by grazing stock 

 of the richer herbage of the manured land. This gradual impro- 

 vement appears in both fields. 



No exact botanical survey has yet been made of the plots, but 

 speaking in general terms, it may be stated that the unmanured 

 land is conspicuous for the poor, wiry nature of its grass and the 



