166 Alghope Field Experiments. 



Experiments in Alghope Fibld.^ — ^This field was laid 

 down with a crop of barley in 1884 by the new tenant, 

 the mixture consisting of ryegrass and clover, with a 

 very small quantity of cocksfoot. In 1896, or twelve 

 years later, about 16 acres of the central portion of the 

 field was ploughed, and the turf laid over as flat as 

 possible. In 1897 it was sown with rape, which was 

 eaten off by sheep. In 1898 it was sown with oats (which 

 proved to be a fair crop), and 



Total, 39 lbs. per acre. 

 After the first ploughing the reversed turf was not 

 stirred, but the ground merely harrowed. In 1899, ia 

 consequence of the fence having been taken down 

 between the experimental portion and the northern 

 portion of the field, which had been laid down to grass 

 after a course of cropping, the stock neglected the 

 former, and hence the wild grasses in the reversed turf 

 got too much ahead, and injured the newly-sown 

 grasses ; and this, of course, interfered with the experi- 

 ment. In 1900, however, the newly-sown grasses showed 

 much better, and the stock distributed itself evenly over 

 both portions of the field, and the experimental portion 

 has much improved. In 1901 the field is to be entirely 

 grazed with cattle till the autumn, or until the grasses 

 have shed their seeds. So far as we can see, the field 

 seems to show that by simply reversing the turf of an 

 old pasture it may be cheaply lai(;i down with superior 

 grasses at a very moderate expense, as, after ploughing 

 once, nothing further is required except harrowiag and 

 rolling. It is, of course, essential that tall strong grasses 

 like cocksfoot, tall fescue, and tall oat grass should be 



