1921.] The Condition of Permanent Meadows. 21^ 



Table III. — The average yields from rncadoir haij and seeds 

 hay compared. The figures are based on the average of the 

 statistics for the periods 190B-1912 and 1010-1919.^ 



Areast. 



Increase, in crvt. per acre, of 

 Seeda Hay over Meadoin Hay. 



Eni^land and Wales 



6-0 



Cambridge, Essex and Norfolk 



7-2 



Lancashire 



8-9 



Cardiganshire, Radnor and Brecon 



5-2 



Derby and Westmorland 



5-1 



average yields of meadow and seeds hay, and that Westmor- 

 land also takes a high place in respect of both, although the 

 leys are frequently left down for two, three or more years.! 



In respect of yield, therefore, average figures are markedly 

 in favour of seeds hay. There are unfortunately not many 

 exact experimental data available contrasting the yields from 

 well managed leys and from permanent meadows on similar 

 soils. The following trials, however, afford farther evidence. 



Seale-IIayne Agricultural College {loc. cit.). — Mixtures for 3 

 or more years were put down in 1910; the average yields of 

 hay per acre per annum for the first two years was over 36 cwt. 

 for the five plots sown, the highest per annum average being 

 41.75 cwt. The yield in the first year was nearly V2 cwt. 

 greater than in the second. Another series of plots gave from 

 42 to 47 cwt. of hay in the first year. 



Manurial experiments on permanent grass did not give a 

 higher yield than 25 .cwt. The soil was apparently, however, 

 decidedly poorer on this latter field, so that the comparison 

 is unfortunately not a fair one. 



Cockle Park. — Gilchrist § has conducted exhaustive trials on 

 seeds mixtures at Cockle Park; well balanced mixtures, 

 including Cocksfoot (6 to 12 lb.) and Wild White Clover, have 

 been employed on poor and stiff clay soils. The best mixture 

 under the best manurial treatment has averaged a yield of 



* Agricultural Statistics, Vols. XLVIII (Part IT) and LV (Part II). 



t It is somewhat remarkable that Leicestershire and Northamptonshire, 

 famous for their pastures, take a low position in respect of both meadow and 

 seeds hay ; the best fields, however, are not brought under the plough, and 

 probablv only the poorer grass fields are put up to hay. 



JTlie second year yield from the Elliot Mixture (with 8 lb. Cocksfoot) 

 came within 8 cwt. of the average of all the tirst year yields. 



§ Gilchrist, Prof. Douglas A., Northumberland County Agricultural Experi- 

 ment Station, Cockle Park, Bulletin No. 31, l'J20. 



