1906.] 



Improvement of Poor Pasture. 



675 



that temporary cessation of growth and impoverishment of the 

 stems, leaves, and roots which necessarily occur in the process 

 of seed formation. 



The effect, therefore, of the application of the manures was 

 not merely an increase in the productiveness of the pasture, but 

 also an alteration in its character from that of a herbage-pro- 

 ducing to that of a seed-producing pasture. The former effect 

 was beneficial,, but if the improvement effected on the pasture in 

 the early part of the summer were to be followed regularly by 

 a deterioration in the later part, it was obvious that the benefit 

 resulting from the manuring would be greatly diminished, or 

 altogether lost. 



Importance of Heavy Stocking. — If the full beneficial effects 

 which the manures seemed capable of producing were to be got, 

 it was essential that the seeding of the grasses should be pre- 

 vented, and it was plain that this could be done, as is done in 

 all skilful management of over-luxuriant pastures, by stocking 

 them heavily in the early part of the season, and eating the 

 grasses well down just when they were approaching the seeding 

 stage. With this object cattle were grazed on the plots for as 

 long as seemed necessary, with very satisfactory results. This 

 not only gave a direct return in the cattle, but, through its effect 

 in preventing the seeding of the grasses, it kept the pasture on 

 the manured plots fresh and vigorous throughout the season, 

 and enabled the manured plots to produce larger increases of 

 mutton in the later as well as in the earlier part of the season. 

 Had the method of combining a cattle with a sheep stock been 

 adopted two years earlier, there can be little doubt that the total 

 returns given by the manured plots throughout the experiment 

 would have stood at higher figures than they now do, and that, 

 had the full influence that the manuring had on the pastures 

 and the proper method of managing them been earlier under- 

 stood, the total gain produced would have been more exactly 

 reflected in the figures. 



But the fact that the manures produce an effect on the pas- 

 tures which necessitates some change in their management is 

 one that is deserving of attention. That an improvement can 

 be effected, and that in consequence thereof more stock can be 

 kept and greater gains in weight be made, are the exact results 



H H H 2 



