782 Summary of Agricultural Experiments- [jan., 



further manuring, the plots manured with basic slag or superphosphate, 

 along with potash salts, were the best, though farmyard manure gave 

 a large crop of a coarse character. The herbage was examined botanic- 

 ally, and in 1905 the percentage of clovers was low, particularly when 

 compared with 1903. After the further manuring, however, the pro- 

 portion went up again in 1907, and the plot receiving superphosphate 

 and potash showed, as in 1903, the highest percentage. 



The plots on Long Mead were manured in 1903 and 1906-7. The 

 highest yield was obtained from 5 cwt. superphosphate and 1 cwt. 

 sulphate of potash. 



Another field at Woburn (Great Hill Bottom) was, as regards a large 

 portion, laid down with grass in 1886 and 1888. Lime (2 tons per acre) 

 had, in 1899, been put on a strip along the top side of the field, and 

 basic slag (8 cwt. per acre) on a similar strip along the lower side, but 

 both of these applications failed to make any impression. In December, 

 1904, the lime dressing was repeated, and 3 cwt. per acre of super- 

 phosphate and 1 cwt. of sulphate of potash given to the upper side, 

 while the basic slag was repeated on the lower side with the addition of 

 1 cwt. per acre of sulphate of potash. Though basic slag had till then 

 resulted in no improvement, it now, with the sulphate of potash added, 

 began to cause a marked change in the pasture; clover began to come, 

 first here and there, and gradually over the whole area, until in 1906 

 there was quite a carpet of white clover, which spread gradually to the 

 upper end of the field, the improvement in which from the use of lime, 

 superphosphate and sulphate of potash, had not hitherto been so decided. 

 Dr. Voelcker observes that it is remarkable that such a change should 

 have been effected, and the result would seem to point to some joint 

 action of the two materials, basic slag and sulphate of potash, inasmuch 

 as each had been tried separately on the grass land of the farm without 

 benefit accruing. 



The figures are given of the production of hay from two plots laid 

 down in 1907 with the grasses and deep-rooting plants recommended by 

 Mr. R. H. Elliot of Clifton Park, Kelso. 



Manuring of Grass Land (Harper-Adams Agric. Coll., Field Expts., 

 Report, 1907). — An experiment in the manuring of old pasture was com- 

 menced in 1903, at the College Farm, and this report gives the results 

 for 1907. The dressing which had the most satisfactory effect, both in 

 1907 and in the previous years, was z\ cwt. of superphosphate and \ cwt. 

 of sulphate of potash applied annually. Nitrate of soda, again, gave an 

 insufficient return to compensate for the outlay. A very noticeable feature 

 was the effect of a combination of nitrate of soda and sulphate of potash. 

 The application of \ cwt. of sulphate of potash has resulted in a small 

 profit over the five years, whereas the addition of ii cwt. nitrate of 

 soda caused no addition to the crop, and consequently resulted in a loss. 

 The application of 1 f cwt. nitrate of soda alone gave a small increase, 

 but not quite sufficient to cover the cost. Ten tons of dung proved 

 profitable as regards quantity of produce. 



An experiment was carried out on a farm near Oswestry, in which 

 the manures which have done best at the College Farm during the past 

 four years were tried, together with an additional plot manured with 

 basic slag. The results in the first season were decidedly in favour of 

 the application of artificial manures, but the experiment is being 

 continued. 



