212 The Rothamsted Grass Experiments. 



sufficient for active vegetation. The result was luxuriant and 

 succulent, though not maturing, growth. Indeed, according 

 to notes taken on the ground, the plots generally manifested 

 great luxuriance ; but the most prominent plants, whether 

 gramineous, leguminous, or miscellaneous, were much more 

 backward than usual at the time of cutting. 



Thus, the excessive produce of grass in 1869 was due not 

 so much to the climatic conditions during the limited period 

 of really active accumulation and above-ground growth, as to 

 the preceding very favourable, instead of as usual detrimental, 

 conditions throughout the three winter months, thus bringing 

 the herbage unusually forward, and rendering it more capable 

 of turning to the best account such climatic elements of 

 growth as followed. This result is somewhat analogous to 

 that observed in the case of the Rothamsted experiments on 

 the continuous growth of wheat ; the seasons of extraordinary 

 productiveness of that crop having been marked rather by 

 moderately favourable conditions throughout, than by spe- 

 cially favourable ones during the period of most active above- 

 ground growth. 



The conditions which prevailed in 1870, the year of least 

 productiveness, must now be examined. After the enormous 

 first crops of 1 869 less than average second crops were grown. 

 Not only would there be comparative exhaustion of manurial 

 constituents, but, succeeding upon the dry weather of June, 

 and the cold weather of both May and June, there was a 

 considerable deficiency of rain in July and August, but little 

 more than the average in September, and again a deficiency 

 in October ; and, with the continued lack of rain in July and 

 August, July was warmer, but August for the most part 

 unseasonably colder, than usual ; whilst September, with its 

 fair amount of rain, was generally warmer, and October, with 

 its defect, at times much colder than the average. 



The autumn conditions were therefore, upon the whole, 

 adverse to growth. Over the five months November, 1869, 

 to March, 1870, inclusive the rain gauge indicated more 



