40 PASTURE STUDIES : SOME RESULTS. 
Lotus spp. (Not sown). 
L. corniculatus was the only species recorded on Areas 6-8, 
but traces of Z. udéginosus were also found on Areas 1-5. The two 
species were not separated in these examinations. 
The Percentage Frequency method of examination is net 
very satisfactory on young pastures for these plants owing to their 
habit of frequently occurring in colonies. The Sp. fr. method is 
probably more reliable, as the plant seldom reaches a high Sp. fr,, 
and therefore its relative distribution is a good guide to com- 
parison. The results obtained by the P.c. fr. method are however 
given in Table V., p. 16d. 
The highest P.c. fr. for Areas 1-4 was o-8 on Area 2 at of 
years, and on Area 4 at 134 years. 
The genus was not recorded on Area 1 by the Sp. fr. method, 
but the other records for these areas ranged from a Sp. fr. of 2 on 
Area 3 at 7} years, to 37 on Area 4 at 13} years. The results 
for Area 2 are irregular, as the Sp. fr. was lower at 84 years than 
at 54 years, but it was higher at 104 years than at 54 years. On 
this area, therefore, there appeared on the whole to be a tendency 
to increase, but not to the same extent as on Area 4. The 
difference between Areas 1, 2, 3 and 5 are capable of explanation 
by reference to the treatment of the land while under cultivation, 
together with the assumption that the tendency to increase is real 
on these areas, as Area 2 was not undera cleaning crop. But 
the high Sp. fr. on Area q is difficult to explain as this area was 
also partly under a cleaning crop. This area had not been 
manured, however, since it was laid down to grass, but Basic Slag 
does not usually depress these plants (23). It may be that the 
difference between Areas 2 and 4 is merely an indication that in 
the later history of a young pasture these plants develop very 
rapidly. 
The highest P.c. fr. and the highest Sp. fr. were obtained on 
the old grass-heath (Area 8). On both Area 6 and Area 7 the 
P.c. fr. results indicate a decrease with an increase in the age of 
the pasture. It is very probable that this plant is capable of 
