92 Difference of Production in Grasses. 



superiority apparent in favour of the superior seed. In 

 1903 I enclosed two plots of 18 feet square in each 

 seedsman's portion of the field, and, after letting the grass 

 grow as if for a hay crop, had it cut and taken direct to 

 the weighing machine. The result showed a difference 

 of 20 per cent, in favour of Mr. Hunter's portion. The 

 trial was repeated in 1904, when it was found that there 

 was a difference of 13 per cent, only in favour of Mr. 

 Hunter's portion. The aftermath of Mr Hunter's plot 

 shows this year (1904) a marked superiority to that of 

 his rival. From these facts it seems obvious that, 

 in the case of laying down land to permanent pasture, 

 great care should be taken to provide the very finest 

 seeds. 



Another difference also attracted my attention as 

 regards crested dogstail. It is well known that stock 

 reject the wiry flowering stems of this grass, but I 

 was struck with the fact that the stems of seed supplied 

 to me by Mr. James Hunter of Chester had a much 

 softer and more succulent appearance, and on enquiry 

 was told by my shepherd that these were eaten by 

 sheep, though the stems of the wild dogstail plant 

 are rejected. On referring this point to Mr. Hunter, 

 he informs me that the seed which he sells of this 

 plant is collected from meadows on • the Rhine in 

 Holland, and adds that it is possible that, from the 

 damp nature of the climate where it is collected, it 

 may be more succulent than the wild native plant. 



From the facts previously given, it seems evident 

 that the whole subject of the difference of production 

 in grasses of the same kind, but grown under different 

 conditions of soil and climate, deserves close investiga- 

 tion, as, even from my individual experience, it seems 

 evident that there are far greater differences in the 

 result than might be supposed from sowing seeds of 

 the most superior kinds, and that these results probably 

 are carried on over a much greater length of time 

 than one would be inclined, at first sight, to suppose. I 



