34 Influence on the Production of Mutton 



was applied to Plot 2 in winter, it showed no improved action 

 in the presence of lime, in fact, quite the reverse. So far as 

 the evidence is available, therefore, we are thrown back for 

 an explanation on the fact that at Sevington the Basic Slag 

 was applied to Plot 2 during the growing season, namely, 

 on June 13. It would be unsafe to generalise from the results 

 of a single test, and it is to be hoped that opportunities will 

 be found to follow this matter up, but it may be that phos- 

 phatic dressings have most effect on pasture when they are 

 applied at a time when plants, and especially clovers, are 

 making their maximum seasonal growth. Whether this 

 should prove to be the case or not, the fact remains that 

 Basic Slag has acted at least as well when it was applied 

 during summer, and there are circumstances where it must 

 be specially convenient to farmers to get it on at that time. 

 In summer the land is dry and carries the cart better, and 

 thus the work is lighter on the horses. The weather is drier 

 and less windy, and this is in favour of sowing. General 

 farm work is often least pressing between finishing root- 

 sowing and starting on the hay harvest, and some part of 

 the time of men and horses might be filled up with carting 

 and sowing manure. It is also to be remembered that Basic 

 Slag can be bought at a less cost in June, when sales are low, 

 than in November, when orders are abundant. Lastly, it may 

 be mentioned that a knowledge that slag can be effectively 

 applied in June may prove useful to an enterprising farmer 

 who has entered on a farm at May Day or Whitsunday. If 

 he followed present custom he would wait till autumn or 

 winter before putting slag on to his pastures, and would get 

 only a moderate result in the following season. But if he 

 puts on slag directly he enters his farm he will get consider- 

 able return in the same season, and a maximum return in 

 the next. There need be no fear that the stock will in any 

 way suffer from grazing newly-slagged land. It is now some 

 years since Mr. W. J. Maiden called attention to the harm- 

 lessness of slag to stock, and the Sevington experience 

 confirms his findings. The small amount of slag that stock 

 may consume is likely to do them more good than harm. 

 On the Continent farmers often deliberately mix phosphatic 

 meal with cattle-food, so that grazing freshly slagged pastures 

 is merely a variation of a common Continental practice. 



