1879.] Experiments on Mixed Herbage of Permanent Meadow. 233 



averaged only 65 — 70, that of the Leguminosae nearly 20, and that of • 

 species belonging to other orders less than ^5. 



With such very great variations not only in the amount, but in the 

 botanical character of the produce of a crop under any circumstances 

 so complex, it might be anticipated that there would be very great 

 differences in its chemical composition, partly due directly to the 

 supply of constituents by manure, partly to variation in the descrip- 

 tion of plants encouraged, and partly to the character and degree of 

 development and ripeness of the varying components of the mixed 

 herbage, according to the season and to the manure employed. 



With a view to the elucidation of this part of the subject, the dry 

 matter and the ash have been determined in the produce of every plot 

 in every season, the nitrogen in that of all the plots for many of the 

 seasons, and in some cases the amount of it existing as albuminoids 

 has been determined. In selected cases also comparative determina- 

 tions of " crude woody-fibre " and of crude fatty matter have been 

 made. About 120 complete ash analyses have been executed. And, 

 lastly, samples of the soil of every plot, in some cases at different 

 periods, and in most cases representing the first, second, third, fourth, 

 fifth, and sixth depths of 9 inches, or in all to a total depth of 54 

 inches, have been collected, and these have been chemically examined 

 in various ways. . 



It is found that there is a considerable difference in the percentage 

 of dry substance in the produce, and very considerable difference in 

 the percentage of mineral matter (or ash) in that dry substance. 

 There is still greater difference in the percentage of nitrogen in the 

 dry matter, and again, a greater difference still in the percentage of 

 individual constituents of the ash. When indeed it is remembered that 

 a plot may have from 20 to 50 different species growing upon it, each 

 with its own peculiar habit of growth, and consequent varying range 

 and power of food-collection, it will not appear surprising that 

 different species are developed according to the manure employed ; 

 and, this being so, that the character and amount of the constituents 

 taken up from the soil by such a mixed herbage should be found much 

 more directly dependent on the supplies of them by manure than is the 

 case with a crop of a single species growing separately. 



In further illustration it may be mentioned that, not only does the 

 percentage of nitrogen in the produce of the different plots vary con- 

 siderably, but the average annual amount of it assimilated over a given 

 area is more than three times as much in some cases as in others. 

 Again, the percentage of potass in the dry substance is more than 

 double as much in some cases as in others ; whilst the difference in the 

 average annual amount of it taken up over a given area is more than 

 five times as much on some plots as on others, dependent on the supplies 

 of it by manure, and the consequent description of plants, and amount 



