io6 



German Harvest of 1903. 



[MAY, 



The result of the first year's trial appeared to show that the 

 quantity of rye grass in the mixtures of seeds in common use 

 may be considerably reduced with advantage. The clovers, 

 moreover, were most in evidence where the rye grass had either 

 been used in moderation or not at all. In fact, the amount of 

 clover increased as the rye grass decreased in the seeding ; thus 

 at one centre where the mixture ordinarily used by the farmer 

 contained 41 lb. perennial rye grass, 6 lb. Italian rye grass, 9 lb. of 

 clover, and 9 lb. of other seeds per acre, very little of the clover 

 appeared in the hay crop ; whereas, in the case of three 'other 

 mixtures, containing each only 5 lb. of clover, it came up much 

 more plentifully in the crop and increased as the seeding of rye 

 grass decreased. Although this aspect of the experiments is 

 still under observation, the results already obtained pretty 

 clearly indicate that overseeding with rye grass is a very 

 important factor in preventing the growth and development of 

 clover. 



In this connection reference may be made to some experi- 

 ments* conducted by the Durham College of Science at 

 Whitehall, Cumberland where it was found that perennial rye 

 grass did not prove a lasting plant for pasture. Two plots 

 sown in 1896 with the largest proportion of this grass were in 

 1902 the thinnest pasture ; one of them sown with 32 lb. of rye 

 grass and j\ lb. of clover was mainly dogstail and Yorkshire 

 fog ; it grazed badly, and its inferiority was very marked. On 

 all the plots the proportion of rye grass was less than that 

 originally sown. Cocksfoot, on the other hand, was present in 

 very much greater proportion than it was sown in, except 

 where sown with the larger amounts of rye grass, which tended 

 to check its development. 



Particulars of the acreage and crops in Prussia in 1903 were 

 German Harvest gi yen m tms Journal in December last 

 Of 1903. (Vol. X., p. 408) in advance of the complete 



* Board of Agriculture : Report on the Distribution of Grants for Agricultural 

 Education, 1902-3, p. 87. 



