1906.] Improvement of Poor Pasture. 



553 



by its giving only 22 lb. live-weight increase per acre in the 

 ninth season (sixth after the second application), whereas slag 

 gave 41 lb. in the same year. The' net gain from this plot was 

 13s. gd. per acre annually as compared with i8s. from slag 

 similarly applied. With one year's exception (1900) clover has 

 not been so well developed on this plot, but at the same time 

 the clover increase had been of a satisfactory character, and has 

 been well maintained till the ninth year. 



Results from Dissolved Bones. — Plot 10 had 6 cwt. dissolved 

 bones in 1897 and the same in 1900. These contained the same 

 amount of phosphoric acid as the superphosphate for plot 5, 

 and in addition the former contained 34 lb. nitrogen in the two 

 dressings. The sheep have increased in live-weight 4 J lb. more 

 per acre annually on this plot than where superphosphate was 

 used, but owing to the lower cost of the latter manure the net 

 gain per acre annually on this plot is only lis. iid. an acre as 

 compared with 13s. 9d. from superphosphate. The results also 

 show that the lasting effect of dissolved bones corresponds very 

 closely to that of superphosphate. Both these manures give 

 their best effects more quickly than slag, but do not give such 

 good results in the later years. Dissolved bones have not 

 retained clovers so well in the later years as superphosphate. 



Results from a Potash Manure. — Plot 7 has had the same 

 superphosphate as plot 5, and in addition 100 lb, sulphate of 

 potash for each of the years 1897, 1899 and 1903. The result 

 has been an average increase per acre annually of nearly .9 lb. 

 live-weight over plot 5, which has just paid the cost of the 

 potash manure, but has given no increase in the net gain. It is 

 rather striking that the potash manure has not at all increased 

 the clover plants, as there have been fewer of these here than 

 on plot 5, where superphosphate only was used. There is 

 evidently nearly sufficient potash in this clay soil to supply the 

 pasture requirements, at any rate, for a considerable time. 



Results f'oni Sulphate of Ammonia. — Plot 9 received the 

 same superphosphate as plot 5, and in addition | cwt. sulphate 

 of ammonia for each of the years 1897, 1899, 1900 and 1903. 

 As a result the average annual increase in live-weight has been 

 reduced by 3 lb. an acre, and the net gain per annum from 

 13s. 9d. to 8s. 7d. an acre. In the four years that sulphate of 



