1908.] Effects of Grass on Apple Trees. 



123 



plot 5. Although, therefore, an excellent gain per acre is shown 

 in the table, this cannot be looked upon as a satisfactory result, 

 as last autumn the herbage of this plot was as rank and coarse 

 as that found on the untreated plot. The results obtained on 

 the pasture plots were very similar. 



Summary. — Professor Gilchrist observes that it is very 

 remarkable that although lime is usually effective on peaty soils 

 it has not been so on these soils, either at Glasson or at Souther- 

 field, and this is probably accounted for by the fact that these 

 soils seem to contain a larger amount of lime than is usually 

 found in peat. In this connection it is interesting to note 

 that in the previous article in this Journal, it was stated that 

 Continental experience had shown that " lime is generally 

 unnecessary, though it is useful in some cases to sweeten the 

 soil and hasten decomposition. Experiments in Germany 

 have shown that its place, especially in the early years, can 

 well be taken by basic slag." At Glasson the results indicated 

 that the small amount of lime present in slag was of great service 

 and that quite a small amount of lime per acre — such as is 

 usually contained in slag — may give really good results. 



At Southerfield 10 cwts. slag of good quality and 2 cwts. 

 muriate of potash were remarkably effective in improving 

 both meadow and pasture land where the herbage was of a very 

 coarse character ; and the same has been found to be the case 

 at Glasson. The results at both these centres indicate that the 

 judicious use of basic slag and a potash manure should be of 

 the greatest service in improving these areas of peaty land. 

 It is probable also that the increased use of basic slag on such 

 soils, which are under arable crops in Cumberland, would be of 

 the greatest service, and also that where dung is not used a 

 potash manure would be a useful addition to slag. 



An experiment was commenced in 1902 at the Harper- 

 Adams Agricultural College to compare the growth of trees 

 when planted on grass or on cultivated 

 Effects of Grass on ground. The grass upon which the trees 

 Apple Trees.* are planted is manured regularly with 

 farmyard and artificial manure, the grass 



* See Journal, Vol. XII, p. 492, November, 1905, and p. 558, December, 

 1905 ; Vol. XIV, p. 42, April, 1907. 



