1910.] Summary of Agricultural Experiments. 669 



slag. For this reason neither the nitrogen in the cake nor in the 

 fish meal gives adequate returns. 



In the Tree Field experiment the plots can be grazed with sheep 

 only, while in Hanging Leaves Fields the plots are more than three 

 times as large, and are grazed with a mixed stock of cattle and sheep. 

 The soil and the original condition of the pasture in the two fields 

 were practically identical, but the live weight gains by grazing with 

 both cattle and sheep have been almost double those obtained by 

 grazing with sheep alone. The explanation of this is that the sheep 

 graze the fine bottom herbage closely and leave that of a rough benty 

 character, which is therefore encouraged to some extent. Cattle, on 

 the other hand, graze more evenly and less closely, without specially 

 selecting the finer herbage, so that the general results are more favour- 

 able to the pasture. 



Other experiments at Cockle Park have been : — (i) Davy Houses 

 Field — manuring of old pasture on a light sandy soil on Millstone 

 Grit sandstone. The results of this show that the good effects of slag 

 on pasture are not confined to clay soils. (2) Davy Houses Field — basic 

 slag versus bone meal. Slag is proving most effective on a clay loam 

 and on a light sandy soil. (3) Back Butts Field — a comparison of the 

 effects of various forms of lime is being made here. (4) West Well Close 

 — effect of phosphates on a loamy pasture of considerably better quality 

 than Tree Field. Slag is also effecting great improvement here. (5) 

 Palace Leas Field — manures for meadow hay. Phosphates (mainly 

 basic slag) have given the most profitable returns. Farmyard manure 

 alone has given a profitable return, but when combined with artificials, 

 though the crop was heavy, the hay was of the poorest feeding quality. 

 (6) Palace Leas Field and Long Riggs — comparison of high- and low- 

 class basic slags, equal quantities of phosphates being applied. 

 Analyses are given of the slags used in these trials. 



Varieties of Lucerne (Jour. Roy. Agric. Soc, Vol. 70, 1909). — 

 Three varieties of lucerne, Provence, American, and Canadian, were 

 sown in 1905. The weights of green produce, from three cuttings, in 

 1909 were: — Provence seed, 10 tons 11 cwt. ; American seed, 11 tons 

 9 cwt. ; Canadian seed, 16 tons 19 cwt. The Canadian variety has now 

 for four years yielded the largest crop, and appears likely to last the 

 longest, as weeds and grass are beginning to overrun the other two. 

 These latter have been about equal in crop. Plots were sown in 1908 

 with three Argentine varieties, but they were attacked by a fungus 

 disease. The crops were cut down close and ground lime applied at 

 the rate of one ton per acre. The crop in 1909 was free from disease, 

 but only amounted to about two tons per acre with each variety, and 

 the plots were ploughed up. The Canadian and other varieties re- 

 mained free from the disease, though they were in close proximity 

 to the attacked plots. 



Forage Crops (Roy. Agric. Coll., Cirencester, Scientific Bulletin, 

 No. 1, 1909). — The plants dealt with are Lathyrus sylvestris, the Wood 

 Vetchling, or Wa gner's Flat Pea, and Bromus erectus, the Upright 

 Perennial Brome. The crops produced and analyses of the hay are 

 given. 



Rotation Experiment (Jour. Roy. Agric. Soc, Vol. 70, 1909). — The 

 purpose of this experiment is to compare the manurial values of decor- 



