1906.] 



Lmproveiment of Poor Pasture. 



much from this plot as from the plots which have been improved 

 by treatment, so that the real returns are considerably less than 

 the above. In five of the nine years the sheep on this plot were 

 worth less at the end than at the beginning of the season. 



Results from Basic Slag. — On plot 3, 10 cwt. slag applied 

 for 1897 has at a cost of 23s. 6d. given an average annual gain 

 of 22s. 3d. for the nine years, a marvellous return from this single 

 dressing. It had the greatest effect in the third season after its 

 application (when it gave 163 lb. per acre of live-weight increase, 

 worth about 51s.), and even in the ninth season afterwards has 

 given 33 lb. of live-weight increase, worth about los. 2d. an acre. 

 Clover development was greatest in the second year (about 20 

 per cent, of the herbage). The poor bent grass has been greatly 

 reduced. The soil has been improved in texture and darkened 

 in colour to a marvellous extent on this plot, and on all the 

 plots where clover development has taken place. 



On plot 4, 10 cwt. slag, half applied for 1897 and half for 

 1900, has not been quite so effective, the average annual net 

 gain for the nine years being reduced to i8s. It is evident 

 that the application of a heavy dressing of slag is likely 

 to give the best result in commencing the improvement of poor 

 pasture of this character. Ten cwt. slag gave 321 lb. live-weight 

 increase per acre in the first three years after its application, 

 whereas 5 cwt. slag gave only 132 lb. in the same time, con- 

 siderably less than half of the larger dressing.. That a second 

 application of slag may be most effective is shewn by the fact 

 that for three years after the first application of 5 cwt. slag the 

 live-weight increase amounted to 132 lb., while the same for three 

 years after the second application amounted to 284 lb. The 

 second application, therefore, more than doubled the results. 

 In the ninth season plot 4 has given an increase of 41 lb. in live- 

 weight per acre, as compared with 33 lb. on plot 3, which shows 

 that although the net gain has been greater after the single 

 dressing of slag, the unexhausted residue is now greater 

 where half of it was withheld till three years later. Plve cwt. slag 

 increased the proportion (not total amount) of clovers to the same 

 extent in the first three years as did 10 cwt., while in the first 

 year after the second application of 5 cwt. slag, the clovers 

 amount to 32 per cent., and even in the ninth year (or sixth 



