The Bank Field Experiment. 165 



regard the worst drought with absolute indifference. 

 From October Ist, 1900, to October Ist, 1901, the value 

 of grazing and hay obtained was estimated by us at 

 £7 3s. an acre. Our estimate has been referred to a 

 tenant-farmer, who is employed as a valuator, and his 

 estimate comes to rather more — £7 7b. 6d, an acre. 



From October 2nd, 1901, to October 1st, 1902, the field 

 has been stocked as appended, and I purposely allowed 

 it to be so much later in the autumn and winter than 

 was judicious in order to see how the new mixture would 

 stand the roughest treatment ; and the effect of this, as 

 might have been anticipated, has been a decline of the 

 clover, though this seems to be recovering, and there is 

 now an abundant feed of grass in the field, which is still 

 stocked with 60 ewes. The list of the stock is as 

 follows : — 

 From October 1, 1901, to December 31, 1901, 4 ewes per 



acre, with the assistance of one cartload of either 



cabbages or turnips per day for the field. 

 From March 15 to M^y 24, 1902, 3 ewes and single lambs 



per acre, with the assistance of two cartloads of 



turnips per day for the field. 

 From May 24 to July 28, 1902, 2|- ewes and single lambs 



per acre. 

 From July 28 to October 1, 1902, 3 ewes per acre. 

 From May 1, 1902, to June 10, 5 cattle. 

 From June 13 to September 4, 2 horses. 



This field, Sown in 1900, according to my 8-course 

 rotation system, ought to have been ploughed up three 

 years ago, but has been retained in grass partly because 

 it has grazed so well, partly because visitors asked to 

 see the Bank field, partly because it was the first 

 mixture of the kind ever used, and partly because I 

 wished to see by analysis {vide Dr. Voelcker's reports, 

 Appendix IV.) whether the fertility of the soil was 

 increasing or diminishing. Its grazing value is still 

 (1907) so great that it has been decided to leave it in 

 grass for another year. 



