THE BATTLE OF LIFE, 97 
been practically banished from the ammonia plots. On 
the whole their requirements are opposite to those of the 
grasses, the conditions favoring the latter not being any- 
thing like so propitious to the leguminous plants. Thus 
the effect of nitrogenous manures as observed on the ex 
perimental plots is to banish or reduce more or less com- 
pletely the Leguminose, or so to favor the growth of the 
grasses, or certain of them, that the Leguminose are 
overpowered. On the other hand, mineral manures, 
which are not by themselves very beneficial to grasses, 
are very propitious to the growth of leguminous plants. 
Potash is especially favorable to these plants, their pre- 
dominance and produce is always enhanced when that 
substance is used in due proportions as a manure, and 
always diminished when it is omitted. In illustration, it 
may be added, that on the plot where the manurial con- 
ditions are most favorable to Leguminose, the weight 
per cent of the whole crop was as follows :—Sixty-five 
per cent grasses, twenty per cent leguminous, and fifteen 
per cent miscellaneous. The per-centage by weight on 
the unmanured plot was, sixty-eight grasses, nine legu- 
minous, and twenty-three miscellaneous. Taking the 
other extreme where a large quantity of nitrogenous 
manure was employed, the figures are ninety-five per 
cent grasses, and five per cent miscellaneous, the Legu- 
minose being all but absent (one per cent). 
Of the Leguminose of pasture-land Lathyrus praten- 
sts seems to be able to hold its own under adverse condi- 
tions much better than its fellows, the clovers or the Lo- 
tus. Its long, straggling root, and scrambling habit 
added to its hardihood may be the source.of these advan- 
tages. 
Miscellaneous Plants.—In spite of the large number 
and varied habits of growth of the miscellaneous species, 
found on the plots, their importance as factors in the’ 
5 
