THE BATTLE OF LIFE. 103 



are specially noteworthy for their abundance ; Ranunculi 

 are also in fair quantity. Plantago has diminished, but 

 the most remarkable feature is the enormous quantity of 

 Cerastium triviale produced under the influence of this 

 manure. 



Nitrate of soda gives a late-ripening dark green crop, 

 more leafy than stemmy in character, but nevertheless 

 showing a greater disposition to form stem than in the 

 case of plants treated with ammonia. 



Superphosphate and Ammonia. The effects produced 

 by this combination, have corresponded to those which 

 are met with in other plots to which ammonia is added, 

 viz., increased produce, chiefly of graminaceous herbage, 

 greatly diminished leguminous herbage, and relative ab- 

 sence of miscellaneous plants. Festuca ovina has enor- 

 mously increased, and, to a less extent, the hardy creep- 

 ing Agrostis vulgar is. On the other hand Antlioxan- 

 tJium odoratum, Holcus lanatus, and Avena pubescens, 

 have decreased. The crop is usually later in ripening 

 than in the case of that to which the superphosphate 

 alone is applied, and with more dark green leaf and less 

 stem, characters which indicate the presence of ammonia. 



Minerals and Ammonia. In all the plots to which 

 ammonia and minerals have been continuously applied, 

 the produce is large, the per-centage and weight of 

 grasses large, those of leguminous plants small or nil, 

 and those of miscellaneous weeds also small. These effects 

 are greater and more observable, the larger the quantity 

 of ammonia, though the effects are by no means doubled 

 in intensity, when the quantity of ammonia is doubled. 

 The average produce has been larger than that of the 

 other plots. The number of species has diminished, 

 especially in the case of miscellaneous plants. Where the 

 ammonia was in relatively slight proportions, Festuca 



