110 PLANT LIFE ON THE FARM. 



It is probable, however, that the diminished proportion of 

 these plants is more often due to the increased luxuriance 

 of the stronger-growing grasses than to the directly preju- 

 dicial effects of the manures on the other plants. 



It is generally oh served, that on the ammonia plots 

 the plants show a great tendency to form leaves, and when 

 mineral manures are added, the period of ripening is 

 hastened, and its degree enhanced. A combination of 

 mineral and ammonia salts, where the latter are not in 

 excessive proportion, is beneficial to almost all crops, as to 

 Cereals, Crucifers (turnips), Chenopods (beet, mangels), 

 Solanums (potatos) &c. 



Minerals and nitrate. The produce in those cases where 

 this combination is used is generally large, ripens early, is 

 of a dark green colour, with abundant foliage and relatively 

 little stem. The per-centage of grasses has been large, 

 that of Leguminosse very small, and that of miscellaneous 

 plants on the whole greatly reduced, effects which, in 

 general terms, are very similar to those observed on the 

 mineral and ammonia plots. 



The mineral and nitrate appears to have encouraged the 

 growth of Poa trivialis, Bromus mollis, and latterly of 

 Alopecurus pratensis, while leguminous and miscellaneous 

 plants have been discouraged. The following grasses are 

 discouraged by nitrate : Briza media, Cynosurus cristatus, 

 Poa pratensis. Leguminosae in general and Umbelliferae 

 and some Composites are also discouraged. 



Cerastium triviale, Plantago lanceolata, Galium verum, 

 Centaurea nigra, and Ranunculus, are slightly favoured by 

 the nitrate. 



The combination of minerals and ammonia favours the 



