NOTES ON WORTHLESS GRASSES, ETC. 147 



because they happen to be grasses, continue to flourish, to the 

 exclusion of species rich in feeding constituents. 



As a rule, the low condition of a pasture is most mani- 

 fest near its boundaries. This may arise from the neglect of 

 hedgerows and ditches, or from the carelessness of neighbours, 

 who permit the dissemination of weed seeds, to their own loss 

 and that of adjoining owners. In this matter it is not often 

 possible to control the action of others, but it is the duty of 

 every occupier to destroy with an unsparing hand the evil 

 tenants of his own land. 



From the series of experiments made by the late Sir J. B. 

 Lawes and Sir J. H. Gilbert at Rothamsted, and confirmed 

 by my own independent trials at Dyson's Wood and Kidmore 

 Grange, it has been demonstrated that most of the annual 

 and not a few of the perennial weeds can be, for all practical 

 purposes, eliminated from a pasture by applications of 

 combined mineral and ammoniacal salts. Judicious dressings 

 of these salts augment the luxuriance of the stronger grasses, 

 so that such pests as buttercups, dandelions, plantains, sorrel, 

 and Briza media are starved out, and even Bromus mollis is 

 considerably reduced in vigour. Lime alone is a powerful aid 

 in promoting luxuriance among the better class of herbage, 

 and is also distinctly prejudicial to weeds, especially to 

 those of annual duration. Early cutting, too, has produced 

 remarkable effects in discouraging weed life. In the years 

 1891 and 1892 part of a meadow at Kidmore Grange, thickly 

 strewn with weeds, was cut in advance of the usual haymaking 

 season, and in the second year a marked diminution of worth- 

 less plants was perceptible, as compared with the remaining 

 portion, which had been cut at the time usual in the district. 



To enumerate all the pestilent plants found in pastures is 

 beyond the design of this chapter. In alluding to those which 

 are most common and injurious to stock, opportunity will 

 be seized to indicate the readiest means of reducing their 

 numbers and of preventing their perpetuation. 



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