Influence of Season on Crop. 209 



and on the climatal conditions, but also on the variety, and 

 the unexhausted condition, of the plants themselves which 

 are comprised in the mixed herbage. 



INFLUENCE OF SEASON ON THE PEODUCE 

 OF HAY. 



The object of this discussion is to endeavour to trace the 

 connection between certain measurable characters of season 

 on the one hand, and the luxuriance or sluggishness of growth 

 of the mixed herbage on the other, with comparatively little 

 reference to the effects of the different manures. 



Common observation recognises a general connection 

 between the characters of the weather as to moisture, heat, 

 and light, and the luxuriance or scantiness of vegetation. 

 When, however, the amounts of growth in different seasons 

 are compared with the usual meteorological records of the 

 period, it at once becomes apparent how complicated is the 

 connection, and how inadequate are such records for a fuller 

 explanation of the differences of result obtained in different 

 seasons. And, however difficult and intricate the subject 

 may be when the growth of a crop consisting of a single 

 species only is concerned, it is far more so when the problem 

 has to deal with the relations of the various climatal condi- 

 tions to the development of a great variety of species growing 

 together, as in the case of the mixed herbage, and numbering, 

 as they do, from less than twenty to more than fifty, accord- 

 ing to the varied manurial conditions provided. 



The method adopted is to draw attention to the actual and 

 the comparative characters of season under which some of 

 the largest, and some of the smallest, amounts of produce 

 have been grown. In a series of tables are recorded the actual 

 amounts of produce of hay per acre (first crops) on the same 

 five selected plots as were taken (page 206) to illustrate the 

 second crops, the monthly rainfall in inches (at Eothamsted), 



